LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




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AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



OP 



Dr. Thomas H.Barton, 

THE SELF-MADE PHYSICIAN 



OF 



SYRACUSE, OHIO, 

INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE 

Fourth Rc?t. West Ya. Vol. Inf y, 

AVITII AN ACCOUNT OF /^'^^-?^«>*2Hr J*^^ 

COL. LIGHTBURH'S RETREAT^^liSV t c 

DOWN THE KANAAVIIA VALLEY, OEN. GRANT'S VICKSBURCx AND 
CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGNS, TOGETHER WITH THE SEVERAL 
BATTLES IN WHICH THE FOURTH RE(JIMENT WAS 
ENGAGED, AND ITS LOSSES BY DISEASE, DE- 
SERTION AND IN BATTLE. 



BY DR. T. H. BARTON. 



CHARLESTON : 

West Virginia Printing Co., 

1890. 









Euteied according to an Act of Congress m the year one thousand eight hundred and 

ninety, 

By THOMAS JI. BARTON, 

in the oilicc of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 




PREFACE. 

as to whether such a work would i" us ffv.; ''"""' ^'°"'^^^ 

and, for a time, the projecl wriaM^al^l" P^orthat't^'^'t^^^' 
ever, up to the latter part of is^7 tt , ^ ^'"'^' ^^^^- 

truded Lelf upon my m1nd and T fi ,/ r ^'^°'' constantly in- 
wife. But she' wa'opp: ed to the undrrta:- '"'" "^ ^'^"^ ^° "^^ 
consequence of advancL years .ndf?^' "'^"""'"^ '^^^ ^^ 
abandon the idea. iTd "fot acolnrh T^^ ^''^^'^ ^ ^^^^ ^«"er 
1888, found n.e seated aj my arr^tTu'S^'oU^'^^f ^' ^'^^^^^'' 
fant recollections. From that thZ ta ' "^ "^ '''''''" "^^ "'■ 

the greater portion of m^ le sure Lu s ln%u"""'' ' '^'^^ "^'^^"^ 
work. '''"'' '"^ ^^« preparation of this 

I am aware that the public is well supplied with fhp , i 
and autobiographies of our distinguished men ffh ^^^^?i^'^'^« 
have led our armies to victorv ^ A, '^f^' ^ ^^« generals who 

the policy of the governmenT;f mtent d^vl^:, T /"^^ ^'^^^' 
historians, philosonhers law.l.. eminent divines, poets, moralists, 
bave spenUheirrivefhi sriitT' ''^^f ''' '^'^ ^'•^"'^"nals, who 
seaffoll. But hecomlno rd''"^'^'^"^''^^'^^- ^^^^^'^^^ «« '^^e 
to reach the sum:irofTm:r:rt^re' t^tl f^n/rd "'" 

Plain - conciselTn^;^;!- ---- ^« — - 

advised to iiichide a hlstorvnf^?^ ?^ acquaintances, I was 
Chattanooga oa4ai.nfnl'h,I ^L^;: nh vn '' ''''""""' ""<' 
together with a detailed ^ccouuZtLZZ^T,"'''''"'''''''''''^' 

.u.tedt.,e,no,te,u,.enta;r.t:rr;:r::i^ 



statements contained in this portion of my narrative to be correct. 

The autlior is well aware that he has not attained to wealth, honor 
or renown. Neither has he acquired distinction as a physician and 
surgeon. After a lifetime of hard labor, he is still at the foot of the 
ladder of fame. Yet, nevertheless, he entertains hopes that this 
volume may prove interesting to a large class of readers. To the 
young practitioner of medicine especially, he trusts these pages may 
afford some useful hints, if in no other way than through the mis- 
takes and failures of the writer. To his old comrades of the Fourth 
West Virginia regiment he extends a cordial greeting, and trusts 
that these battle-scarred veterans may find pleasure in reviewing 
the scenes and incidents of their army life. He further hopes that 
the general reader will find the war history of sufficient interest to 
merit his attention. In the preparation of this portion of his 
work the author has aimed at conciseness of style and accuracy of 
detail. 

Syracuse, Ohio, "i ^„-p, ATTTTrnR 

September 30th, 1889. / iKJ^AUiMOK. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Ancestry— Birth-Character— Early Youth— Incidents— Tlie Dis- 
trict bcliool— Farm Labor— Recreations— Religious Revival- 
Church Trial— A Bereavement. 

CHAPTER II. 
Remarriage of My Father— Laboring on My Own Account— A Re- 
trospect-Kchool Teacher— Death of my Sister Mary— My Patri- 
"'^^vVJ^v^"^^.",^''^' Medicine-Addison-Character of my Brother 
—Old lime Celebrations- Cholera Epidemic of 1849--A Reso- 
lution. 

CHAPTER III. 

The Practicing Physician— PageviUe- -Dr. Lowell— Medical Prac- 
ti^ce— Change of Location— Leon— State of Society in Virginia- 
Epidemic of Malarial Fever -Dr. O. G. Chace-Love-Courtshin 
—Marriage— Domestic— A Loss—A greater Loss— Removal to Ches- 
ter, Ohio. 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Village of Chester— Medical Practice— Dr. J. W. McGrath— Sec- 
ond Love— Marriage— Domestic— Unpopular with the People of 
Chester— Dr. James Dias— The Comet of 1857— Death of Mv 
Father— Change ofLocation-The Town of Syracuse-The Syra- 
cuse Coal and Salt Co- Coal and Salt Industries-Contract with 
the Mmers-Dr. D. L. Star-Dr. Adams-Dr. Joseph Bean- 
Dr. Samuel Bean— Birth of a Son— An Affray— Ah Alarm of 
War. 

CHAPTER V. 

Presidential Election of 18G0— Political Parties— The Seceded States 
—The Southern Confederacy— Star of the West— Fort Sumpter— 
The President's Call for Troops— Independent Company- Recruit- 
ing for the Fourth W. Va. Regiment-Enlistment-Company 
and Regimental Offlcers- At Point Pleasant— At Spencer in 
Roane County— Camp Life— Return to Point Pleasant— At Ceredo 
—incidents of Camp Life— Appointed Hospital Steward— Moved to 
' ^-harleston— At Chapmansvilie— Scouting— Death of Major Hall 
—CoKLightburn's Retreat from the Kanawha Valley— Causes of 
the Retreat— The Retreat— Arrival at Ravenswood— Visit to my 
Family- Return to Point Pleasant- Second Advance up the 
Kanawha— Ordered to Vicksburg. 

CHAPTER VI. 
Description of Vicksburg— Its Defences— The Campaign Against 
that Stronghold— Grant's First Campaign— Defeat of Sherman at 
Haines' BluflT— His Retreat— The Fourth W. Va. Regiment mov- 
ed to Vicksburg— Camp at Young's Point— Arrival of Grant— The 
Canal at Young's Point— Cutting the Levee at Lake Providence— 
And at Moon Lake— The Mississippi Flotilla— Yazoo Pass Expedi- 
tion—The Queen of the West— Loss of that Vessel— Loss of the In- 
di^ola— Farragut runs the Batteries at Port Hudson— Steel Bayou 
or Deer Creek Expedition— Failure of the Expedition. 



VI 

CHAPTER VII. 

Dissatisfaction with Gen. Grant — "Visiting Statesmen" — The North- 
ern Press — Concentration of the Army — Running the Batteries at 
Vicksburg — Grierson's Raid — Movement of the Army down the 
Mississippi — Sherman makes a Feint on Haines' Bluff— Crossing 
tlie river at Bruinsburg — Grant's Rapid Movements — Thompson's 
Plantation — Battle of Port Gibson — Capture of Grand Gulf — Move- 
ment towards Jackson — Battle of Raymond — Battle of Jackson — 
Capture of the City — Destruction of Confederate Property — Grant 
moves West — Battle of Champion's Hill — Forcing the Big Black 
River — Pemberton retires within the lines of Vicksburg. 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Defences of Vicksburg — Review of the Campaign — The Federal and 
Confederate Forces — The Rebels Evacuate Haines' Bluff— Opening 
of the Yazoo — First Assault on Vicksburg — Second Assault — Failure 
— Dismissalof McClernand — Final investment of Vicksburg — The 
Seige — Progress of the Seige — Grant Receives Reinforcements — The 
Confederates Attack Young's Point and Milikins Bend — Johnson 
Crosses the Big Black to relieve Pemberton — Failure to relieve 
Vicksburg — First Mine Exploded — Assault and Failure — Second 
Mine Exploded — Pemberton 's Desperate Situation — Is advised by 
his Division Commanders to Surrender — Correspondence of Grant 
and Pemberton — Terms of ('apitulation — Last Effort of the Con- 
federates to Relieve Vicksburg — The Surrender — Condition of the 
City — Results of the Campaign. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Personal Experience — Young's Point^— Reorganization of the Army — 
Sickness Among the Troops — Surgeons Ackley and Waterman — 
Ackley Resigns — Philson and Waterman Promoted— Incidents — 
The Canal — Inspection of the Hospital — Running the Blockade — 
Grant Moves down the River — Sherman's Feint on v^icksburg — 
Moving towards the Front — Grand Gulf— On the March — Passing 
Champion's Hill — Effects of the Battle — Hard Marching— Want 
of Provisions — And of Water — In the Rear of Vicksburg — First As- 
sault — Second Assault— Casualities — Charge of the 8th Wisconsin — 
Old Abe — The Seige — Blowing up the Fort — Scarcity of Water — 
Exchanging Bread for Tobacco — Appointed Surgeon of the 2d. 
Mississippi Colored Regiment — Incidents— Surrender of Vicksburg 
— News from Home— Sickness and Furlough. 
CHAPTER X. 

Description of Chattanooga — Andof the Surrounding Country— And 
of the Tennessee River — Battle of Stone River— Retreat of Bragg— 
Rosecrans takes Chattanooga — And follows Bragg to Chickamauga 
— Battle of — Federal Losses — Movements of Burnside — He takes 
Knoxville — And Cumberland Gap — Rosecrans Retreats to Chat- 
tanooga— Bragg's Position — Rosecrans in Danger— He is reinforced 
by Hooker — Grant in Command — He opens communications and 
establishes the "Cracker Line" — Jefferson Davis visits Bragg — 
Longstreet moves towards Knoxville — And Attacks Burnside — 
Sherman ordered to Chattanooga — His Movements — Arrives at 
('hattanooga — Plan of the Battle — Preperations for the Engage- 
ment — Movements of Thomas — And of Sherman — And of Hooker 
at Lookout Mountain— Resultsof the Second Day's Engagement — 
Renewal of the liattle- Grant's Orders— Ilookei's Movements — 
And of Sherman- Thomas Assaults Missionary Ridge — Defeat of 
the (Confederates— Results of the Campaign — Reflections on the 
Subject. 



CHAPTER XI. 

^^Jh^'^rS?? ^''^? n I^^lieve Knoxville-Longstreet Attacks Burn- 
side-Battle of Canbell Station-Knoxville Threatened-Move- 
""'l^^nH ^/.'^ ^%^an-Longstreet Attacks KnoxviJle-He is Repulsed 
-End of the Western Campaign-The Fourth W. Va. Regiment- 
It Moves with Sherman's Army-Goes into Winter Quartlrs-The 
Veterans Consohdated with the Eighth Missoud-The Non- 
Veterans Mustered Out-Service of the Veterans-Losses of the 
Regiment-Reflections on the subject-Personal History-Sick- 
ness-A Furlough-The Journey Home-Home "Sweet Home'^- 
Extensionof Furlough-The Gallipolis Hospital-My Treatment- 
At Home-A Case of Forcible Detention-Removal to Syracuse- 
Return to the Hospital-Iucidents-Washington's Birthday-The 
Journey to Wheeling-An Algebraic ProbIem*-At Baltimore-The 
Last '^ Resf'-Return to Wheeling-Mustered Out-Home at 

CHAPTER XII. 

Division of the Subject-Financial-Settlement of My Propertv-It 
IS Deeded to My Wife-The Town of .Syracuse-ImprovJnients- 
Piicesof Commodities-I resume my Profession-Extent of Mv 
Practice-My Competitors-Surgical' Practice-An Injured CoS 
MineT-His Treatment-Death of Jarob Henry-His Character 
Death of Robert Snowball-Some Remarkable Cases Medical 
Practice-An Attenipted Robbery-The Cholera-Its Fatal Effects 

~Co^TT M^r'^',^ ^'^l'-"^ "'V?'."^^ Ha ws-Profession.l Courtesy 
—Code of Medical Ethics— Criticisms on My Practice— Thi 

S'-Wild^Al^f.^' ot'^J'""'^" H.sband-Efrecls ^of luperSttioTi^ 

CHAPTER XIIL 

^ilSf ^f rf"~o'^ ^l^T'S Election of 1867-Nominations for 
Justice of the Peace-My Candidacy-The Election-Commis- 
s.oned Justice of the Peace-Sworn into Office-The Docket- 
Swan'sTreatise-aassesof Crimes and Misdemeanors-Revision 
of the Criminal Code-Swan and Sailor's Statutes- Warner's 
Criminal Code-Civil Practice-Marriages-Criminal Practtce-A 
Defective State Warrant-A Search Wa'^-rant-My Second Can di- 
dacy-Re-e ected-A Question of Jurisdiction- Warren's Revised 
h3'"1 S^'^VAi^^r'^T "^ H'^l^^^^ Corpus-Criminal cSel!! A 
SnvW. Fk' Wo^-k-"Nannie Rags"-James Ewing-George 
^^k"'^^'''' B«.!;'^'"-A Strange Bill of Particulars-D A. Minx 
-Martin Hays-The New Civil Docket-Close of Office. 

CHAPTER XrV. 

^ W^'if"! ""''"^ pi-"g?ist-Financlal-Erection of New Dwelling-A 
Labor R;smS''nf'''H ^^^^ ^ew Drugstore-Cost of Mechanical 
RptinTr T^ "f "'?, ^'""^ Business-Burdsal and Brother- 

axfan Thi ^^ff °? ^^^ Miners-Reduction of Wages-Negotiating 
a Loan— This Efl^ort proves a Failure-Suit of Burdsal and Brother- 

ShS?^^^^^"'''.^"7.^^"^° ^f My Creditors-SelHng §ut-The 
Sheriff Levies on My Goods-W. T. A, Lallance-He Purchases 
^^Jdlt'^'SvJ^ Di-ug9-The Results-Reflections on the Subject The 
Locatlrf mS wl?^'''.'r "^^^^ ""L ^J AflTair-Proposed Change of 
sSsfness"^?^?' w "^ ' Views on the Subject-We Again Commence 
?ur Rea E^ta^e ''^'' of Prosperity- A Pleasant Visit-Addition to 



Vlll 

CHAPTER XV. 

A Retrospect — Building Castles in the Air — A sudden Change — Sell- 
ing Out — Reasons for so Doing — The Credit iSystem — Removal to 
Indiana — The New Location — Purchasing Property — The Old Log 
Cabin — A Dream Fulfilled — New Residence — Visit to Syracuse — 
Second Visit — Sickness — The Climate in Indiana — Return to Syra- 
cuse — My Changed Circumstances — I Resume my Profession — Dr. 
E. H. Trickle — Affairs in Indiana — Litigation — Suitof Law Against 
James Ewing — The Result — The Game of Croquet — A Sad Bereave- 
ment. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Treatment of Paupers — Resume of the Subject — At Leon, Virginia — 
At Chester, Ohio — At Syracuse— A Dangerous Case — Litigation — 
Action Against the In*imary Directors — The Poor Laws of Ohio — 
Duties of Township Trustees — And of Infirmary Directors — Diffi- 
culty with the Trustees — Tlieir Unfair Ruling — Controversy with 
W. N. Jones — Newspaper Correspondence — Mr. Jones' Answer — 
My Reply in the Telegraph — And in the Republican — Demand 
for Newspapers — Change in the Action of the Trustees — Cost of 
Treating the Poor in 1877 — New Trustees Elected— Their Action — 
And of the Infimary Directors— A Wretched Case of Pauperism- 
Litigation with the Trustees — Trial before the Justice — And at the 
Court of (yommon Pleas — And District Court — Expense of the Liti- 
gation — Electiou of 1880 — [ receive more Liberal Treatment — Gen- 
eral Review of the Subject — Case at Minersville — Cost of Pauper- 
ism in 1888. 

CHAPTER XVII. 



CONCLUSION. 

Resume of the Drug Business — Location at Carletonville — Firm of 
G. R. Barton & Co— Building up a Trade— Firm of T. H. Barton 
& Co — Remarriage — Professional Labor — Sale of our Indiana Pro- 
perty—Division of the Proceeds — My Financial Condition— A New 
Home— Domestic — Our Children — Death of my Brother James — 
The Drug Business— Our Purchases and Sales— Gains and Loses 
A Young Druggist— The Drug Trade at Syracuse — Medical Ethics 
Result of Changes in Medical Treatment— Epidemic of 1882— 
Fatal Ceases— Dr. J. W. Hoff— Dr. C. Rathburn— Dr. Ross— Win- 
ters of 1883-4— Flood of 1881— Destruction of Property— Suffering 
Among the Laboring Classes — Commissary Supplies — Disabil- 
ity Pension — Epidemic of 1886- Fatal Cases — Prostrated by Sick- 
ness— Quality of my Practice— Improvement — Dr. Milford Roush 
— ^Dr. I. N. Holmes — Conclusion. 

SUPPLEMENT. 
The Physician and Patient— Requisites of tlie Physician — Itinerant 
Physicians— TheTraveling (iuack— The Specialist— Their Methods 
— The Advertising of Receipts for Certain Diseases — The Code of 
Medical Ethics Rights, Duties and l*rivileges of the Attending 
Physician -And of the Patient and His Friends— Consultations- 
Mode of Conducting them — Violations of the Code of Ethics — Re- 
flections on the Subject— Compensation of Physicians— An Ap- 
peal to the Public. 



AUTDBIDBRAPHY 



DF 



* T. H. BARTDN. * 



CHAPTER I. 



EARLY YOUTH. 

I am sprung, on my father's side, from a family of English 
ancestry. My great-grandfather was born in England, but 
died in America. My grandfather, James Barton, was born in 
Harford county, Maryland, but I do not know the date of his 
birth. He served in the Continental Army during the war of 
the revolution, and afterwards held the office of jailor at Belair, 
Maryland. He was the father of six children ; John, Permelia, 
Thomas S., Mary, Ann and Casandra. He died at Peach Bot- 
tom, on the Susquehanna river, in 1810. 

My father, Thomas S. Barton, was born March 8, 1790, in 
Harford county, Maryland, at or near the town of Belair. 
About the year 1814 he moved to Marietta, Ohio ; thence to 
Lancaster, Ohio, where he became acquainted with Catharine 
Harman, a lady of German descent, to whom he was married 
about the first of September, 1818. Four children were the 
fruit of this union: Elizabeth, born June 12th, 1819; Mary, 
born February 22d, 1821 ; James, born August 8th, 1823; I am 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



the youngest child, and was horn on the eighth of December, 
1828. 

M}' father, while yet a single man, serv'ed with distinction in 
the American army during the war of 1812. He was after- 
wards known as Captain Barton, and resided at Marietta Ohio, 
when the battle of New Orleans was fought ; and when the 
news of that great victory reached Marietta, he assisted in 
illuminating that city in honor of the event. Candles and bon- 
fires werfe the sources of illumination. 

And the year 1818, my father removed from Lancaster to 
Bedford township, Meigs county, Ohio ; and soon afterwards 
to Upper Scipio, where he purchaFed a small piece of land. 
On the receipt of my mother's interest in her father's estate, it 
being two hundred dollars, current money ot the realm, he ex- 
changed his farm in Upper Scipio for another, situated in the 
same township, on the Mud fork of Leading creek, and con- 
taining about 131 acres of land. The old-fashioned hewed log 
house in which I was born was still standing in 1875, It was 
rectangular in form, twenty-six feet long, eighteen feet wide and 
fourteen and a half feet high. It contained two stories; there 
were small windows of twelve lights of glass ; a door opened on 
each side of the building, and a substantial brick chimney was 
placed at the north end. The brook flowed near by ; there was 
"orchard, and meadow, and deep tangled wild-wood;" a well 
of sparkling water, with its time-honored old oaken bucket. 
These were the scenes of my childhood. 

"As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, 
And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well, 

The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket. 
The moss covered bucket, which hangs in the well." 

I was the youngest child, and occupied a superior place in 
the affections of the family. I was naturally mischievous, 
irritable in disposition, yet obedient to my parents, and fond 
of work and hard study. My father was very pious, and lived 
a Methodist after the straightest sect. Morning and evening 
he would read a chapter from the New Testament and hold 
family prayer. Among our small collection of books were the 
Testament and spelling book. These volumes were about the 
same size, and covered with the same kind of cloth. One 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



morning I placed the spelling book on the Testament, within 
reach of my father, who, when ready to read and pray, picked 
up the spelling book, opened it, closed the book again and laid 
it down, and reached for the Testament. At this moment I 
exclaimed : "Pap, the next time you read, you had better get 
the almanac." Luckily for me, he paid no attention to my 
suggestion, but went on as usual with his devotions. 

When about five years of age, an incident occurred which 
made a strong impression on my mind, and exerted an 
influence to keep me from using profane language. One 
morning, immediately after breakfast, my mother and sisters 
were performing some labor in the garden, having left the 
dishes unwashed on the table. Now, it was an unusual thing, 
at least for one of ray age, to see a chicken in the house. 
Finally, the old cock succeeded in getting on the table. 
'•Chook ! chook ! chook ! chook !" calling the hens about him. 
I saw the chicken on the table, and ran out, crying as loud 
as I could: "Mamma! Mamma! the old rooster is on the 
table, just a-playing h — 1 !" I shall never forget the uproar 
and laughter at my expense. 

On another occasion, when about seven years old, in com- 
pany with my brother James, I went to my father's clearing, 
and while there imagined I saw a beautiful piece of wood. It 
sparkled and glistened in the bright sunshine. I moved toward 
it, with the intention of picking it up, exclaiming : "See, Jim, 
what a pretty stick of wood." At that moment my brother 
caught me by the shoulder, telling me at the same time that it 
was a snake. It was a large rattlesnake, having twelve rattles, 
and therefore thirteen years old. Being stretched at full length 
on the ground, its enormous size and bright, shining appear- 
ance deceived me. It was a narrow escape. 

Mr. B. F. Erwin worked for my father in the clearing. On one 
occasion, Mr. Erwin had with him some of the unadulterated 
juice of the corn. He proposed to give me a dram, if I would 
gather some brush and assist him at his labor. I readily con- 
sented, and went to work with a will, but in a short time 
wanted "more dram," which was given me. The effect waj 
exhilarating, but I soon began to experience strange sensations. 
I became dizzy. The whole field looked to me as if it were 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



going round and round. I succeeded, however, in making my 
way to the house. It was my first dissipation. 

Among my youthful companions were two brothers: John 
and William Hicks. John was a good swimmer, as was also 
my brother. William and I could not swim. We were bathing 
in the creek, and heavy rain had swelled the stream to the top 
of its bank. I had taken off my clothes, and waded into the 
shallow water, but had accidentally gone beyond my depth, 
when the swift current bore me rapidly to the center of the 
stream. Here was a snag to which I clung until rescued by 
William Hicks. 

During harvest time it was part of my labor to carry water 
to the workman in the field. For this service I was promised 
three cents a day. I did good service slaking the thirst of the 
horny handed laborers. One day an old lad}^ named Hidrick 
passed through the meadow and inquired what I was 
doing. I informed her that I was carrying water to the har- 
vest hands. "Tommy," said Mrs. Hidrick, "do they give you 
anything for carrying water?" "Yes," said I, "Pap is to give 
me three cents a day." "Tommy, that isn't enough ; you 
ought to have six and a fourth cents a day, and don't carry 
any more water till you have the promise of an ad- 
vance of wages." I obeyed her injunction. Soon the 
workman began to call after me for more water; but I was on 
a "strike," and their calls were in vain. At length my father 
conceded the demand and promised the much desired advance. 
Whether this occurrence was the origin of strikes in Meigs 
county, or whether they are due to more extensive combina- 
tions, I leave to the reader. One thing is clear : I was one 
among the first "strikers" in the county. 

I lived in the days of log cabins and hard cider. My father 
made large quantities of the juice of the apple. The apples 
were pounded in a large iron kettle, a heavy maul, with a pin 
through the handle, worked by two men, being used for that 
purpose. The press was constructed of two heavy pieces of 
timber, about twenty feet in length, securely fixed on blocks. 
Between these pieces, a heavy beam, ten or twelve inches 
square, was placed ; the three pieces being fastened together 
at one end with a pin. Near the other end was a platform, 
with gutters to carry off the cider, on which was placed the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



box containing the pounded apples. The beam was raised 
onto the box by means of leverage. Mr. Erwin, whom I have 
already mentioned, worked for my father. He was honest, a 
good worker, trustworthy in every respect, but inclined to 
superstition. I was about five years old, when, one evening, in 
the fall of the year, my father, brother, and Mr. Erwin were 
at work making cider. It was quite dark, and one of them 
observed a light rise, apparently out of the ground. Their at- 
tention was immediately fixed on the strange light. While 
looking and wondering, another light rose, and then another, 
and vanished in the air. They gazed intently in the direction 
from which the lights appeared to rise, but saw nothing in the 
gloom. Mr. Erwin then said to my father. '"Barton let us go 
to the house, something may happen to us, the cider press 
may fall down and kill or cripple some of us." There was no 
more cider made that night. They were greatly alarmed at 
the strange apparition, came to the house, and related che facts 
to the family. Three days afterwards, Mr. Erwin's mother, a 
venerable old lady, died suddenly ; and this occurrence tended 
to strengthen the idea of superstition. It made a strong im- 
pression on my youthful mind, aud we all believed that the 
strange lights were a token of her death. I have no doubt that 
Mr. Erwin always entertained that belief. Science, however, 
would have relieved our own minds from superstition, and 
told us that the inflammable gas, occasioned by the decompo- 
sition of vegetable substances on marshy ground, had ignited, 
causing the jack-a-lantern to make its appearance. 

When six years of age I commenced going to school. 
William McMahan wielded the birch. Mr. McMahan's resi- 
dence, in which the school was taught, was a double log house 
distant about two miles from our home, and my path lay 
across the creek, over fences and through fields and woods. 
The school system of Ohio was then in its infancy. The rural 
districts were dotted with log school houses, in which the 
pedagogues labored "to teach the young idea how to shoot." 
There was one term of three months during the winter, but 
none in the summer, and the schools were supported in part 
by public subscription. A knowledge of reading, writing., spell- 
ing, geography, and of arithmetic, to the "Single Rule of 



6 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Three," was regarded as a sufficient qualification on the part of 
the teacher. We were poorly supplied with books. Those used 
in our school were Webster's American Spelling-book, the 
Primary reader, the New Testament, and the English reader. 
Some of the advanced scholars read from a History of the 
United States, and a work entitled American Biography. The 
pupils were required to "go through" the spelling book before 
they were permitted to read. Smith's Geography was used, 
and a work on arithmetic called the Western Calculator. Web- 
ster's Elementary Spelling book was introduced in 1836, and 
steel pens and McGuff'ey's reader came into use about the same 
time. 

The exercises consisted mainly of reading and spelling. 
Four times a day, between each intermission, the pupils read 
round. There were three classes in spelling ; first, second, and 
third. The class stood in line, and beginning at the left, each 
pupil spelled a word pronounced by the teacher, and if a word 
was misspelled, it passed down the line until it was spelled 
correctly. The successful scholar then took his station next 
above the one who failed. It was an honor to "leave off head," 
and a certain number of head marks was a badge of distinc- 
tion. No grammar was studied in the school. There were no 
classes in Arithmetic, and no exercises on the black board. 
The students in Arithmetic recited separately, and were re- 
quired to memorize the rules and solve the problems : and if a 
problem was found too difficult for solution by the student, it 
was brought to the teacher, who "worked it." 

I was fond of school and learned rapidly ; but would some- 
times become very tired over the long hard words in the spell- 
ing book. I was yet in the third class, when, on one occasion, 
the second class were spelling for head, a word went "round 
the class." The teacher overheard me whisper to my brother 
that I could spell that word, "Thomas," said he, "rise and 
spell it." I did so, and was promoted to be head boy of the 
class, and felt as important as General Jackson in the presiden- 
tial chair. On a future occasion, my brother having "left off 
head" fourteen times in succession, the teacher made a rule 
that whoever did so twice in succession should go to the foot. 
Tills left me at the head, l)ut I did not like the idea of being 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



turned to the foot, and intentionally missed a word, so that I 
might remain near the head of the class. 

Hollis Downing was ray second teacher. A new school house 
had been erected in the district. This edifice was about twenty 
feet square, constructed of logs hewed on one side, thus giving 
the interior a smooth and ev^en appearance. The spaces be- 
tween the logs were filled with pieces of wood daubed over 
with mud. The seats were made of slabs, split off timber, 
dressed moderately smooth, with pins for legs, bat destitute of 
any rest for the back. On each side of the building a log was 
cut out and a long narrow window put in. Steel pens were 
unknown at the time, and, for the benefit of those who used the 
goose quill, boards about eighteen inches wide, fixed in the 
form of desks, extended along two sides of the building. There 
was a puncheon floor, and "cat and clay" chimney, with a huge 
fireplace capable of holding logs of wood five or six feet in 
length. Such is a general idea of the country school house fifty 
years ago. 

Mr. Downing was kind, humane, and benevolent; lenient in 
his conduct towards the pupils, and took an active interest in 
the progress of the school. One day, when the ground was 
deeply cov^ered with snow, nearly all the boys left the play 
ground, repaired to the state road on the hill, got sleds and 
boards, and went "coasting." It was a gala noon time for the 
students. We were absent about two hours when, returning 
to school, we saw Mr. Downing standing in the door, a smile 
on his face, and a large switch in his hand. The boys expect- 
ed to get a whipping; but, on entering the school room, Mr. 
Downing gave each boy, except my brother and myself, a slight 
tap with the switch, remarking at the same time, "Get your 
book." 

Robert Townsend, my third teacher, under whom I learned 
rapidly, was well educated for the times, and kept a good 
school. Amos Stevens, who succeeded Mr. Townsend, was also 
fairly educated in the English language, and during his term, 
I commenced learning to write. The first copy was a round 
hand in large letters ; but writing was hard to learn on account 
of my being left handed. 

Daniel Dudley, a single man born in one of the Ensteru 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



States, and better educated then any of his predecessors, was 
our next teacher. Mr. Dudley was small of stature, peevish 
and morose, cross and irritable in his disposition, but kept 
good order in the school. During the noon hour, as he was 
one day walking in the wood near the play ground, and a large 
tree stood between him and the boys, one of them proposed to 
"snowball the teacher." The snowballs flew thick and fast 
and some of them hit the tree. As Mr. Dudley stepped from 
behind the tree, he was struck in the breast by a snowball. 
The boys then ceased throwing, school was called, and some 
of the larger boys were called up to answer for the misde- 
meanor. "Who hit me with the snowball?" inquired the 
teacher. One of the boys called out : "It was Perry Riggs." 
Another said : "It was Enoch McMahan," some one said: "It 
was Jim Barton," and others claimed it was Bill Saddler. 
Unable to ascertain who did it, the teacher talked to the boys 
al)Out fifteen minutes, and then went on as usual with the ex- 
ercises. 

John Cain, a boy about my age, sat beside me in school, and 
was one of my classmates. We were studying the spelling 
lesson, and one of the words was cain, spelled and defined : 
Cain, a man's name ; cane, a shrub, or staff. I studied in a 
loud whisper: "C-a-i-n, a lazy man's name; C-a-n-e, a shrub, 
or staff." John began to cry, which soon attracted the teach- 
er's attention. "John," said Mr. Dudle3% ''What is the matter 
with you?" John replied : "Nothing, sir." "Has Thomas done 
anything to you?" "No, sir," answered John, Turning to me 
the teacher said: "Thomas, have 3'ou done anything to him?" 
"No, sir," I answered : "I am studying my spelling lesson." 
The teacher left us, but John continued to cry until the class 
was called up to spell. 

Near the close of Mr. Dudley's term of school, my brother 
got into a dispute with Enos McMahan, a boy about his own 
age, and a son of our former preceptor. Enos picked up several 
large chips and pieces of wood intending to strike ni}^ brother, 
but James would knock them out of his hand. This was con- 
tinued till school was called, when, as the}'' were near the door, 
my brother struck Enos a powerful blow over one of his eyes, 
bruising the llesh and causing the blood to flow. When in the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



school room the teacher asked Enos, what was the matter 
with his eye? "Jim Barton hit me," replied Enos. The pre- 
ceptor then inquired : "What did he hit you with, did he hit 
you with a club?" "No, sir," replied Enos, "he hit me with his 
fist." I was a peaceable, obedient pupil, and feared there 
would be trouble, but the teacher proceeded with the school 
as if nothing had occurred. It is probable Mr. Dudley feared 
that the blood-letting process might be applied to himself. 
James who left school on account of this trouble, was after- 
wards arrested, brought before a Justice of the Peace, and 
fined five dollars and costs, but the fine and costs were neyer 
collected. 

I was eleven years old at the close of Mr. Dudley's school, 
I had attended six terms of the district school, including two 
to Mr. McMahan. I studied hard and learned rapidly ; was at- 
tentive and obedient to my teacher; was regarded as the best 
scholar of my age, and few stood higher in the school than I 
did. Our facilities for reading, as I have already remarked, 
were limited, but I made good use of those in my possession. 
In the American Biography I read of the heroes of the Revo- 
lution ; of the generals who conducted the sieges and battles ; 
and of the statesmen who shaped the policy of the govern- 
ment. The reading of the battles of the Revolution afforded 
me delight, and fixed within me a sentiment of patriotism 
which has never been eraeed. 

During the summer months, until near eighteen years of age, 
I worked for my father on the farm. How diff'erent was the 
labor then and now ! When I think of the improvements 
which have been made in farming, I always think of the pro" 
duction of wheat in the old times in Ohio. There are few who 
are old enough to remember the manner in which it was pro- 
duced for the market. The grain was sowed broadcast, and 
covered with the harrow. The sickle and cradle supplied the 
place of the reaper and binder. It was threshed with a flail? 
a machine made of two pieces of wood fastened together by a 
piece of leather. The farmer swung the flail over his head, 
and it was about as dangerous to his own head as it was to the 
heads of wheat that he was aiming it at. A large ring was 
sometimes made, in which the wheat was threshed by the 

2 



10 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



tramp of horses. It was separated from the chaff by an 
artificial agitation of the atmosphere, produced by a sheet or 
bag held by two men, one at one end and the other at the 
other, with a third pouring out the wheat at the top. I have 
seen this operation performed. It was also separated by the 
fanning mill, a machine which produced the necessary agita- 
tion of the atmosphere by means of a wheel, similar in form 
to the wheel of a steamboat. The operator turned a crank 
which communicated the motion to the wheel, and also to the 
selves, and the chaff was blown away from one end of the ma- 
chine. 

It is needless to speak of the many implements in use 
among the farmers. A large amount of the labor was per- 
formed with the hoe ; the plow turned the soil to the right ; 
grass was cut with the scythe and gathered with the hand 
rake. Labor was cheap, seldom exceeding fifty cents a day. 

Maple sugar was a staple jiroduct. It sweetened our tea and 
coffee, and answered every other purpose for which sugar is 
used. It was made from the sap of the sugar maple (the Acer 
Saccharinumi). Two or three auger holes were bored into the 
tree, but not deep enough to go through the sappy part of the 
wood, and into these were inserted reeds of the shumach shrub 
(the Rhv.s Glahrum). Wooden troughs were placed under 
these spouts, to receive the drippings from the tree. An ex- 
cavation which answered the purpose of a furnace, was made 
in the ground, and over this were placed the kettles contain- 
ing the sugar-water. The sap was then boiled to a syrup and 
clarified with milk or the whites of eggs, and was further 
evaporated in smaller kettles. This labor was performed in 
February and March, and was often regarded as a recreation 
by those engaged in it. 

Nor must I omit the labors of our grandmothers. Wool 
was carded into rolls, spun into thread on the spinning-wheel, 
and woven into cloth on the hand loom, thus providing the 
family with jeans and flannels. Cotton was also woven into 
a kind of cloth called "homespun," the cotton yarn for the 
warp being purchased at the store. Soft soap was manufac- 
tured from grease and water im])regnated with the alkaline 
proi)erties of the ashes of wood. These labors, together with 



THOS. H. BARTON. 11 



the product of the garden, the dairy and the poultry yard, 
afforded material aid towards the general support of the fam- 
ily. The calico dress was a luxury, and "store clothes" were 
worn only by the gentleman. 

When the farmer came to market his products, he found the 
prices far below those of the present time. Wheat was sold in 
the market at thirty-seven and a half to fifty cents a bushel ; 
corn and potatoes at twenty to twenty-five cents a bushel ; 
butter at eight to ten cents a pound ; eggs at three to five cents 
a dozen ; beef at one and a half to two, and pork at two to 
three cents a pound. As for everything the farmer bought — 
everything he could not raise — he paid more than double, and 
in some instances more than three times the present prices for 
like commodities. He toiled from early dawn till late at 
night; yet, regardless of all this, farm life had its charms, and 
my most pleasant reminiscences are those of the home of m}' 
childhood. 

During the summer succeeding Mr. Dudley's term, a new 
school district was laid out in our neighborhood, and an un- 
occupied log cabin was used as a school-house. My sister, 
Elizabeth, who had sufficient education, was employed to 
teach. At this school I studied orthography, reading, writ- 
ing, arithmetic and geography. I used Ray's arithmetic and 
Smith's geography. Mary Ann Barton, a cousin of mine, suc- 
ceeded Elizabeth, and the school was taught in the same old 
log school-house. Miss Barton was a skillful teacher, and 
among the best scholars was Maria Hopkins, daughter of the 
Rev. James H. Hopkins, a local preacher and farmer, and 
afterwards an ordained minister of the M. E. church. All of 
father's children attended this school. My brother was re- 
garded as the best scholar in arithmetic ; my sister Elizabeth 
the best in spelling, and my sister Mary carried off the palm 
in writing. 

For two or three weeks, during the winter succeeding Miss 
Barton's term, I attended a school taught by my sister Eliza- 
beth in another district. A new building, called the Hopkins 
school-house, in honor of the Rev. James H. Hopkins, was now 
erected in the district, and my brother James, was employed 
to teach the school. The new school-house, though far in- 



12 AUTOBIOGRAPAY OF 



ferior to those of the present time, made a fine appearance, and 
was a great improvement on the old log structure near Page- 
town. During this term of school I added Kirkham's English 
grammar to my former studies. 

Benjamin Hughes was my next teacher, and under his in- 
struction I completed my course at the district school. In 
arithmetic I studied as for as profit and loss, when, on one 
occasion, I came across the following problem : 

"Sold a quantity of corn, at $1 per bushel, and gained 25 per 
cent. ; sold of the same to the amount of $59.40, and gained 35 
per cent. ; at what rate did I sell ; how many bushels in the 
last lot?" 

After studying the problem for some time I brought it to 
the teacher, who, after looking it over for a few minutes, told 
me that it would take two hours to solve it. I finally solved 
it without his assistance. 

Miss Mar4a Hopkins, who succeeded Mr. Hughes was inca- 
pable of teaching me, and I was compelled to seek other fields. 
The Rev. Mr. Howe, a Presbyterian, whose christian name I do 
not now remember, taught in the old school house near Page- 
town, and I attended his school for a short time. I desired 
to study Algebra. My brothor had purchased Bridge's Alge- 
bra, an elementary work, from which I had learned the first 
principles, and he had afterwards exchanged it for Harney's 
Algebra. The latter contained the g-^neral principles of the 
science, together with a series ot abstruse problems, but with- 
out answers, and there were few solutions or demonstrations. 
The students were re(]uired to verify the answers. I knew very 
little about forming an eijuation and soon got embarrassed 
on the following ])roblem : 

"A man's age was three times that of his wife when he mar- 
ried her. After they had lived together fifteen years, his age 
was twice hers. What were their ages when married?" 

I brought the problem to the teacher, but he could not solve 
it. In the evening, I showed it to my brother, who took a 
piece of chalk, made a few letters and figures on the side of the 
house, and easily found the unknown quantities. The prob- 
lem admits of an easy solution by algebra. I then left school 
and pursued my studies at home. My mother who took an 



THOS. H. BARTON. 13 



active interest in my progress, had told me that when old 
enough, she intended to send me to college. This stimulated 
me to extra exertions. I pursued my course in algebra as far 
as logarithms without the aid of a teacher. I procured a copy 
of Comstock's Natural Philosophy, and soon became familiar 
with the principles of mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, 
pneumatics, electricit}^ and optics. I studied the laws of at- 
traction and gravitation ; learned the minor principles of 
astronomy, and could tell the approximate distance of the 
earth and planets from the sun, together with their revolutions 
around it. I could also explain the causes which produced 
the changes of the seasons, and of eclipses of the sun and 
moon ; I read books of travels, and works on biography and 
history, and endeavored, by all the means within my power, 
to store my mind with useful knowledge. 

Nor must I pass over in silence the sports and diversions, 
the pleasures and sorrows of school life. There were pleas- 
ant rambles through the wood, gathering and eating the June- 
berry — called also the service-berry. This shrub, (the genus 
Crat,Tgu,s) grows in dense forests and is one of the earliest to 
bloom in the Spring. Its fruit which is very delicious and 
healthy, ripens in June ; hence the name of June-berry. The 
species is now almost extinct, the woodman's axe having 
cleared it away. 

The spelling-school was the theatre at which the test of 
scholarship was displayed. These tournaments were held fre- 
quently and class was arrayed against class, and school 
against school. Two leaders were selected who then pro- 
ceeded "to choose up." The opposing forces were stationed 
at opposite sides of the room, and the words, pronounced by 
the teacher or conductor, were passed alternately from side to 
side. After the preliminary exercises were conducted for a 
sufficient length of time, the dispositions were then made for 
the final conflict. The contestants, like the Greeks of old, 
drew out their forces in line, and fought man to man — each 
man endeavoring to spell down the other side. If a word 
A^as misspelled the delinquent stepped from the ranks. Thus 
a superior knowledge of orthography, not unmixed with cour- 
age, decided the fate of the day. 



14 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



Athletic sports were the chief sources of recreation among 
the male portion of the scholars. There were contests of 
wrestling, scuffling, running and jumping. Town ball, from 
which the national game originated, was the principal field 
exercise. An equal number of players was chosen on each 
side, and the first to the bat was decided by chance or mutual 
agreement. The number of bases was indefinite, and their for- 
mation was governed by the contour of the ground on which 
the game was played. The players were either "crossed out" 
between the bases, caught out behind the bat, "on a fiy," or on 
the first bound. The curve was unknown ; there were no dead 
balls, and no uniformity as to the number of innings. The 
inning ended only when all the players on both sides were put 
out. Disputed points were settled by mutual agreement with- 
out the aid of an umpire. 

The revolution of half a century has brought about many 
changes in the'school system of Ohio. The class of old fash- 
ioned school-masters (the writer among the number) with their 
modes both of rigid discipline and instruction, have either 
passed away or long since survived their usefulness. The old 
log school-houses have been supplanted by new and costly 
edifices, well furnished for the convenience both of teachers 
and scholars. Improved text-books and modes of instruction 
have been introduced, and the ideas of fifty years ago have been 
succeeded by a thorough system of universal education. 

I was a large boy for my age ; fairly well developed, muscu- 
lar, and was not indiflerent to the sports of the day. On one 
occasion, at recess, Simeon Ellis, a boy about my own size but 
two years older, proposed to wrestle. We took fair hold of each 
other at "side hold," and he, being the oldest, gave me the 
under hold. We wrestled for near five minutes, but kept on our 
feet. I purposely exerted myself, for my best girl, Amanda 
Hopkings, stood in the door looking at us. 

My brother, when twenty-one years old stood five feet 
ten and a half inches in height, and he weighed two hundred 
pounds. He was well developed, muscular, fond of athletic 
sports, an expert at wrestling, and the champions were numer- 
ous that he laid on the ground. His choice was always "side 



THOS. H. BARTON. 15 



hold," and I never knew any man to get the advantage of him 
at wrestling. John Sylvester was about forty years old, about 
the same height as my brother, and weighed over two hundred 
pounds. He was a powerful athlete and an expert at "catch- 
as-catch-can." On one occasion, at a large gathering of men 
at Harrisonville, one David Dunlap, offered to bet five dollars 
that Sylvester could throw down any two men in the crowd. 
Joseph Heaton, a cousin of mine, also an athlete, together with 
my brother, stepped out to accept the challenge, but Sylvester 
failed to cover the bet. It was then proposed that James and 
Sylvester should try their strength and skill, but they could 
not agree as to the mode of wrestling. My brother desired to 
wrestle at "side hold," while Sylvester insisted on "catch- 
as-catch-can." While engaged in settling the preliminaries, 
Sylvester suddenly grabbed my brother, got hold of one of his 
legs, raised him about two feet, thinking to lay him on the 
ground. At the same time James caught Sylvester around the 
neck and came down on his feet, only to be raised again the 
second time. Each one kept his hold, and Sylvester raised 
my brother the third time and threw him on his hips. The 
bout lasted about two minutes, and it was very evident that 
Sylvester had exerted all his strength, for he was blowing hard 
and his limbs were in a spasmodic condition for ten or fifteen 
minutes, while James looked as fresh and vigorous as ever. 

James had been successful at school, and had obtained an 
excellent education in the English branches. He was an ex- 
pert in arithmetic, and could solve the most abstruse problems 
by arithmetical calculation. Captain Vance, father of Col. 
John L. Vance, of Gallipolis, gave it as his opinion that my 
brother was one among the best arithmeticians in the State of 
Ohio. James was married in September, 1845, to Miss Ange- 
line Reeves, an estimable young lady of Alexander township, 
Athens county, Ohio. 

When I was about eleven years of age the Church of the 
United Brethren in Christ had a great revival of religion at 
Harrisonville. The Rev. Koutsinger, a German who preached 
in the English language, conducted the services, and a large 
number of persons embraced religion and joined the church. 
At the close of Rev, Koutsinger's efforts the Methodists com- 



16 AtJTOBlOGRAPHV OF 



menced a series of meetings at the same place, and the minis- 
ter, the Rev, Mr. Hayes, was assisted by Rev. Koutsinger. The 
people were greatly stirred up, and the consequence was that 
the Methodists had perhaps the greatest revival of religion 
ever known in Meigs county. While attending these meetings 
I became thoroughly under conviction, and convinced of a day 
of judgment after death, where every one will be called upon 
to answer for '"the deeds done in the body." I would go to the 
mourners bench and there offer up my humble petition to the 
God who rules the universe, and to Jesus, the son of David, 
the Lamb of God, "who hath power on earth to forgive sins." 
Although very young, I was thoroughly convinced of the error 
of my ways and of the necessity of repentance and faith in the 
Lord .Jesus Christ. I became a member of the M. E. church. 

About this time a class of the Methodists was organized, and 
the meetings were held at father's house. There was preaching 
every alternate Sabbath, and Bro. Frame, a local preacher of 
the neighborhood, conducted the services. Bro. Frame, whom 
I greatly admired and loved, always dressed very plainly, and 
his manner of preaching would now be called an exhortation. 
After the sermon was over, Bro. Calvert would exhort, and 
make a powerful appeal to sinners, and Bro. Burroughs would 
then conclude the exercises with singing and prayer. These 
meetings were always followed by a sumptuous feast. The 
fatted chickens would be killed, and the brethren, or the most 
of them, invited to tarry for dinner. Father's house was noted 
for hospitality, and the brethren never failed to partake of a 
square meal. 

One Sabbeth morning Bro. Frame preached at father's house. 
He wore a home-spun linen shirt, without any collar-button ; 
and a thread, to which was attached a large darning-needle, 
supplied the fastening. As he warmed up to his subject, I was 
greatly amused to observe the darning-needle vibrating to and 
fro like the pendulum of a clock. 

One evening when prayer-meeting had been appointed at 
our house, three boys came very early; one of them, Alvin 
Sexton, who was five or six j'ears older than myself, proposed 
to take a walk. I readily accepted the invitation and after 
we had proceeded about one hundred yards, Sexton said to 



THOS. H. BARTON. 17 



me : "Tom, we want you to get down on your knees and 
pray for us." I objected, telling him at the same time, that it 
would be wrong to do so. The other boys joined in urging me 
to pray for them, but no persuasion on their part could cause 
me to "cast my pearl before swine, lest they come again and 
rend you." 

The black hawk was then the wild bird of the forest, and his 
depredations in the poultry yard were numerous and destruc- 
tive. The good house-wife was always anxious for the care of 
the brood, and various devices were employed as a means of 
protection. One Sabbath morning, during Church services, a 
loud cackling was heard in the yard — the unfailing token of 
approaching danger. My mother, ever anxious on the sub- 
ject, gave me to understand that she wanted me to drive the 
hawk away. I went out quietly and returned, only to be rep- 
rimanded by the minister; for, in my frantic efforts, I not 
only disturbed the hawk, but the religious exercises as well. 

These religious meetings were continued for a number of 
5'ears, and there was preaching every alternate Friday by the 
ordained minister. My father always took an active interest 
in church affairs ; was kind and benevolent, and always will- 
ing to lend a helping hand to the poor in time of need. He 
was tenacious as to what he believed to be his rights ; but 
ever ready to do justice as between man and man. New em- 
igrants settled in the neighborhood, with some of whom father 
had a controversy, and they could not come to any terms of 
settlement. At length James Blundon, a prominent church 
member, preferred charges against my father, for no other rea- 
son, as I believe, than to injure his character. Blundon no 
doubt anticipated an easy victory, as father was not well 
versed either in the laws of the land or the canon of the 
church. At length, the cause came on for trial before a com- 
mittee of church members, and father was found guilty as 
charged in the specifications, and expelled from the church. 
He appealed the case to the quarterly conference, and the pre- 
siding elder referred the matter back, on account of an unfair 
hearing before the committee. The cause was then tried over 
again at father's residence, and a large concourse of saints and 
sinners came to hear the trial. He was again found guilty 



18 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



and expelled. The case was once more carried up to the quar- 
terly conference, and father was there finally acquitted of the 
charges, and re-instated in full membership. 

Alfred Cheadle was the poet laureate of the neighborhood, 
and, in memory of this great church trial, composed the fol- 
lowing lines : 

'Twas in the pleasant month of May, 

All nature being gay. 
'Twas Blundon that charged Barton, 

All on the thirteenth day. 

He charged him and he slandered him, 

Most scaudelously severe. 
They had it up hill and down hill 

First one aud then the other. 
And every time they met in class, 

It was sister and brother. 

And the case it was a surly aim, 

That Barton did his standing gain. 
Then Hopkins took the case in hand, 

And smote the people on every hand. 
Till Haulin withdrew 

And left the social band. 

Then Hopkins smote the people 

On every side. 
Till Ellis left the church — 

Likewise his dear bride. 
Then Barton gained the victory. 

And eoilquered all at last. 

And now the warfare having ended, 

A stranger steps in. 
He passed for a saint and was freed from all sin. 

They appointed him class-leader, 
He's the last class-leader that ever I saw, 

He's left the little church, 
And gone to study law. 

This wretched doggerel was frequently sung by a full chorus 

of voices to a time contained in the old Missouri harmony'.' 

The people as usual in such cases, were divided in opinion on 

the merits of the cause ; and the trial, like all similiar trials 

had an injurious effect on the welfare of the church. I have 

given its history with the object of illustrating m}^ father's 

strength of will and tenacity of purpose. 

******* 

I now approach an event of my life, so indelible, so sudden 
and yet so solemn, so bound up with all my infant recollections, 
that, from the beginning of m}' narrative, I have seen it grow- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 19 



ing larger and larger as I advanced, and casting its shadows 
over all that had preceeded it. It haunted me in my dreams, 
and even at this day, its remembrance is fraught with sorrow. 
Moreover, it was the turning point of my life, and formed the 
basis of my future career. 

My mother, whom I have thus far rarely mentioned, but 
whom I dearly loved, was now about sixty years old. She 
was plain in her manner and attire ; a devoted christian, an 
affectionate companion, and a kind and indulgent mother. 
About the first of June, 1845, she burned or scalded (or thought 
she had done so) the fore-finger of her right hand. The 
finger smarted and burned very much, and this was followed 
by a fever. Dr. French, an old gentleman who practiced as a 
physician in our neighborhood, but who had little if any 
knowledge of the science of medicine, treated her, and ex- 
plained the case in some way. At first, father did not think 
there was anything serious, but she gradually grew worse, the 
finger being greatly swollen, and Dr. Dickson, of Albany, 
Athens count}^ was sent for. Dr. Dickson pronounced the 
trouble erysipelas — a disease of which we had never before 
heard. The arm soon commenced to swell, and the swelling 
extended to the body. Her vital powers failed rapidly, and 
she passed quietly away on .the eighth of June, 1845. Her 
body was consigned to the tomb, and her spirit ascended to 
the God who gave it, where 

"There is a land beyond the sky, 
Where happy spirits never sigh. 
Then, erring souls, your sins deplore, 
And sing of where we'll die no more.'' 



CHAPTER 11. 



TEACHER AND STUDENT OF MEDICINE. 

I was approaching my seventeenth birthday when my mother 
died. Her last years had been the happiest of her life, and 
they were far from being the least happy of mine. It was not 
till after the last sad rites had been performed, and her body 
laid to rest in the old graveyard near Harrisonville, that I 



20 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



began to realize the loneliness of my situation, and to com- 
prehend, in its full import, the irreparable loss that I had 
sustained. I was then pursuing my studies in algebra and 
natural philosophy, and her counsel and advice, her cheerful 
words and promises had been to me a source of encouragement. 

Another event occurred soon afterwards which, in connec- 
tion with the death of my mother, exerted a powerful influence 
in shaping my future career. One day, I think it was about 
the first of February in the following year, a lady, accom- 
panied by her daughter, called at our house. The mother 
was about thirty-eight years old, and the daughter, who was in 
very feeble health, about twenty. They had consulted a 
botanical doctor in regard to the young lady's condition, and 
had called at our place on their way home. Father, who was 
noted for his hospitality, invited them to remain for dinner, 
and a sumptuous feast was prepared. A few hours were 
passed in pleasant conversation, and fatlier seemed well 
pleased with the elder lady. 

Great event& are frequently brought about by the most 
trifling causes. The friendly visit was returned, and it soon 
become evident that cupid was hard at work, and that father 
was enamored of the elder lady. Her name was Margaret 
Zickafoos Berkle3^ The marriage was arranged to come off" in 
March, and the nuptials were to be solemnized at the bride's 
residence. 

The wedding preparations were soon completed, and when 
the appointed time arrived, father, together with my brother 
ond sisters, set out on horseback for their destination. It had 
been decided that I should remain at home, but I had never 
witnessed a marriage ceremony, and my curiosity was aroused. 

I followed the procession on foot, and being young and 
active, arrived at the bride's residence in time to hear a deep, 
sonorous voice round oft the words : " I pronounce you man 
wife." 

As I entered the room, a pleasant group met my gaze. Con- 
spicuous" among the number I recognized the familiar form of 
my father. His tall figure stood erect, and his countenance 
beamed with delight, while the bride, arrayed in her best attire, 
was radiant with smiles and blushes. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 21 



The widow Berkley was the mother of eight children when 
this marriage was consummated. Their names were : Simeon, 
Catharine, Lucy, Martha, William, Joseph, Amanda and 
James. I have given their names in the order of their ages, 
and the four younger children came to live with my father. 
The fruits of this union were John W., born in December, 1846, 
and Sarah M., born July 15th, 1849. 

During the summer succeding my father's re-marriage, I 
labored on the farm, and assisted in raising a crop. I also 
performed some labor during harvest, and other work on my 
own account. Late in the fall, several young men who were 
going to the iron furnaces in Lawrence county, requested me 
to join them. I did so, and labored for a short time at a saw- 
mill, and chopped wood for a gentleman named Porter, who 
had a -contract to furnish wood for the furnaces. In the 
intervals of labor during the summer, I had taken up the sub- 
ject of chemistry, and had incidentally mentioned that fact 
to my employer. One day Mr. Porter remarked to me : " Tom, 
as you have studied chemistry, how would you like to buy a 
recipe for curing cancer?" He suggested, at the same time, 
that he would sell me such recipe in part payment for my 
wages. I reflected for a few moments, and replied: "Will 
it cure a cancer? " There was a laugh at the expense of my 
employer, and I heard no more of the recipe for curing 
cancer. 

This work, however, was not so pleasant as farming, and I 
soon returned home. But farm labor at this time was equiva- 
lent to working for my board, and clothing myself, for it was all 
that father could now do to maintain his family, and it became 
self-evident that I must be the architect of my own fortune. 

I was well qualified to teach the district school, having passed 
a successful examination at Pomeroy. Mr. Halliday, county 
auditor, was the examiner, and he granted me a certificate. 
With this document in my hands, I sought the field of my 
future labors, and, through the influence of John Chilcote, of 
Columbia township, obtained a school in his district. 
* * * * * * * 

Let me pause for a moment upon a memorable period of my 
life. Weeks, months, seasons have passed away. They seem^ 



22 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



little more than a summer day and a winter evening. Now, 
the garden where I played in my infancy is all in bloom, and 
glittering in the bright sunshine ; and now the fields and wood 
are deeply covered with a mantle of snow. In a breath, the 
brook that flows through my pleasant rambles is splashing in 
the summer sun ; is ruffled by the winter wind, or congealed 
with a coating of ice. No stream presents a more pleasing 
picture as it flashes and rolls away, and hastens to mingle its 
drops with the father of waters. 

My school days ! The silent gliding on of those years — the 
unseen, unfelt movement of my life — from childhood up to 
youth. Let me think, as I look back through the vista of 
time, whether there are any monuments which mark my pro- 
gress. 

A moment, and I occupy my place in the family circle, where 
we all assemble morning and evening for devotional services. 
The cheerful fireside, the bri-.-ht sunlight, the birds and flowers, 
the fields and wood, the pleasant companionship of those 
whom I dearly loved, are wings that take me back, in a pleas- 
ing reverie, to the home of my childhood. Ah, what changes 
have come over the old home ! New faces are gnthered around 
the hearthstone. And now it is that I begin to miss a familiar 
form, with which my infant recollections were so long associ- 
ated. I do not speak of her now, for I know too well that she 
will never more return. 

In the space of a thought I am in the school-room, and hear 
the hum of many voices, and recognize the features of my 
youthful companions. Now, we are conning over the long, hard 
lessons and preparing for recitation; and now we are on the 
play-ground, animated with the sports and recreations of the 
day. I am not the last boy in the school. In the course of a 
few years I have risen rapidly. But the teacher seems, as yet, 
a great way off — a mighty creature whose giddy heighth is un- 
attainable. I am impressed with the stores of knowledge he 
has mastered, with the honorable station that he occupies, and 
wonder whether I will ever attain that dignity. I chiefly 
wonder what he will be in after 3'ears. and what the world will 
do to maintain itself against him. 

Time has stolen on unobserved, and other changes have 



THOS. H. BARTON. 23 



taken place m the old home. James is a teacher now, and 
has commenced the study of medicine, and is ^oing to be a 
physician. I think James is a noble fellow, and wonder 
whether I, even I, will be able to follow in his footsteps. 

A blank, through which the heroes and warriors of antiquity 
march on in a seemingly endless procession — and what 
comes next ! I have passed my eighteenth mile-stone, I have 
completed my studies at the district schools. I have 
accomplished more, I am familiar with the principles of alge- 
bra and natural philosophy, and have passed a successful ex- 
amination in the English branches of education. I am the 
master, now ; and look down on the line of boys under 
me, with a condescending interest in such of them as bring to 

my mind the boy I was myself when I first came to school. 
******* 

I have paused tor a moment to see the shaows of those 
years go by me. They are gone, and I resume my narrative. 

I entered upon my new field of labor ; and, for a young man 
eighteen 3'ears old, taught a good school, the major portion 
of the scholars learned rapidly, and I had the pleasure of 
knowing that my labors were crowned with success. Let not 
the reader smile when I tell him that I received only eight 
and one third dollars a month, and'.boarded with^thie scholars, 
for experienced teachers seldom received more than fifteen 
dollars a month for their services. With the proceeds of my 
labor I purchased broadcloth at two dollars and fifty cents a 
yard, and cassiraere at one dollar a yard ; and, for the first 
time in my life, walked abroad in a fine suit of clothes. 

It is not without a lingering feeling of sorrow that I come 
to record the death of my sister Mary. She was dignified in 
her manner, kind and gentle in her disposition, and amiable 
in her social relations. It seems that the best are sometimes 
called away first. In the last days of August she complained 
of feeling unwell, and was soon afterwards confined to her bed. 
I went for my brother, but he did not think that Mary was 
seriously ill. There had been no sickness among the children 
other than the diseases incident to childhood, and James was 
loth to believe that there was any danger. I insisted, however, 
that he should take charge of the case. He did so, pronounced 



24 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

the disease typhoid fever, and commenced treating her. But 
she gradually grew worse ; good counsel was called to see her, 
yet it was all of no avail. At length she became delirious. 
Dysentery and hemorrhage of the bowels set in, and she slowly 
sank and passed quietly away. 

Our facilities for procuring proper remedies were limited, 
and I have sometimes thought that had the nature and path- 
ology of her disease been understood then, as would be now. 
her life might have been saved. 

Mary died with full faith in her Redeemer. I believe that 
she was prepared to go. As we stood around her dying bed- 
side she professed religion, and gave us good counsel and 
advice. Jared Stiles, an intelligent young man, a staunch 
Universalist, and a friend and acquaintance of hers from in- 
fancy, visited her during her last sickness. She exhorted Mr. 
Stiles to renounce his belief; telling him that universalism 
might do to live by, but that it would be wanting in death. 
She died in September, 1847, and was laid to rest by the side 
of her mother. 

"Sister, thou Avas't mild and lovely, 

Gentle as the summer breeze. 
Pleasant as the air of evening. 

When it floats among the trees." 
* * * % * * * 

I was now pursuing the study of chemistry, but without the 
aid of a teacher. In this connection I will relate a circum- 
stance in regard to a steam and botanic physician. During the 
summer one of my step-sisters had an attack of malarial in- 
termittent fever, and the botanic doctor was called to treat her. 
I was then studying the alkaloids — morphine, strychnine, 
bucine, etc. I thought this an excellent opportunity to learn 
something about chemistry, and re(iuested the doctor to ex- 
plain the meaning of the word alkaloid. He replied that he 
did not know. I was greatly surprised to find that a practic- 
ing physician, apparently in good standing, should be so igno- 
rant. Think of this, ye sons of Esculapius ! Here was a 
physician, having an extensive practice both in Meigs and 
Athens counties, who did not know the meaning of the term 
alkaloid ! 

About this time father sold his farm on Mud Fork to the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 25 



Rev. T. A. Welsh, and purchased a smaller one near Harrison- 
ville. From the proceeds of the sale he gave my sister Eliza- 
heth and myself two hundred dollars each. He had previously 
assisted James, and had partly furnished him the means to 
obtain an education. These gifts, not unworthy of father's 
ability, were the only patrimony we received. 

During the summer my brother taught school at Albany. I 
attended his school for about two months ; and, in the follow- 
ing winter, taught at Bolen's Mills, in Lee township, Athens 
county. I think it is now a part of Vinton county. My sti- 
pend was increased to ten dollars a month, but my efforts 
were not entirely successful. Some of the pupils learned rap- 
idly, while others appeared indifferent. It was a difficult 
school to teach and equally hard to govern, for a large por- 
tion of the scholars were full of what the Rev. Lorenzo Dow 
calls " the old boy." 

While teacliing at Bolen's Mills a brutal affair occurred in 
the neighborhood. This was no less than a prize fight, the 
result of an old fued, and Abraham Martin and Abraham 
Lewellyn were the participants. I was attending a singing- 
school, one evening, and it was announced that a fight at fisti- 
cuffs was to come off' near by. The singing-school was broken 
up; the young ladies went to their several homes, and the 
young men and boys repaired to the scene of action. I went 
also. A ring was formed, and a man about forty years old 
acted as referee. Neither Marquis of Queensburry or London 
Ring rules were to govern, and time was to be called only 
when one or the other was conquered. The preliminaries were 
soon adjusted, and the men? sprang at each other, "rough 
and tumble," and fought furiously for fifteen minutes, when 
Lewellyn gave up. Both men were severely punished. 

My sister Elizabeth was not averse to the tender passion 
of love. She became affianced to Christopher Spilman, a re- 
spectable young farmer of Columbia township, and they were 
married August 27th, 1848, 

My next field of labor was at Kygerville, in Gallia county, 
where I received the moderate sum of $15 a month for my 
services, and boarded in turn with the scholars. Here I had 
a large school, forty and sometimes forty-five scholars being 



26 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



in attendance. It was a difficult school to teach, for the pupils 
were in all grades, from the '' A B C " to the higher English 
branches. Hon. J. P. Bradbury, afterwards prosecuting at- 
torney of Meigs county, judge of the Court of Common Pleas 
and Cireuit Courts, and at this writing one of the judges of the 
Supreme Court of Ohio, attended this school. 

Early in the succeeding spring, I attended the academy at 
Albany for six weeks. The preceptor, whose name I do not 
now remember, had an excellent education, and was a bach- 
elor. Here I studied English grammar, Latin and botany. 
In botany I recited with Miss Rhoda Bissel, but pursued my 
course in Latin alone. I studied through the Latin grammar, 
and commenced to read easy sentences. This term closed my 
academic education. 

During the summer I taught at Bennett's Mills, in Green- 
field township, Gallia county. There was a large number of 
pupils in attendance, and I received twelve dollars a month 
for my labor, and boarded with the scholars. The pupils, 
however, were young, and the school was easily taught and 
governed. 

I will now relate my first experience as a traveler. I had 
never been far from home, and had never traveled on a 
steamboat. Some time in August, I think it was after the 
close of my last school, I took passage at Addison for the 
town of Hanging Rock. Being very large, tall, of a fair com- 
plexion, light hair and smooth face, I presented a fair target 
for the young bloods to have sport with. I was annoyed in 
various ways by three or four young men, and I had incau- 
tiously informed them in regard to my business. I took it 
all calmly till a gentleman about forty years of age said to me : 
" Young man. if they annoy you any more, draw your fist on 
them ; that will settle them." I am not quarrelsome, neither 
am I wholly destitute of fear; and, having found a friend on 
board, I resolved to take my own part, even if it had to be 
done by hard blows. An opportunity soon presented itself. 
I was standing by the guards, conversing with a gentleman 
named Robinson, and while we were talking, one of the roughs 
came out and began to taunt me. Without saying a word, I 
moved toward him with my left duke in position (I am left- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 27 



handed) and with resolution written on my countenance. 
The rowdy turned and shrugged up his shoulders in order to 
avoid the blow. Luckily, or unluckily, I missed my man ; for 
at that instant Mr. Robinson caught me around the waist, not 
only arresting the blow, but tearing my Irish linen coat, as 
well. Although failing to punish the ruffian as he richly, 
deserved, yet I had the satisfaction of knowing that perfect 
order reigned on that steamboat while I remained on it. My 
linen coat being ruined, I donned my broadcloth. 

In August, 1849,1 commenced the study of medicine under 
the preceptorship of my brother James. He had located at 
Campaign Creek, now Addison, in Gallia County; was well 
respected as a physician, and was building up an extensive 
and lucrative practice. 

Soon after James located at Addison, t3'phoid fever became 
prevalent in that localit}^ and he was called to see a young 
lady, named Berry, who was threatened with an attack of that 
disease. He gave her some medicine, explained the nature of 
the disease, and told her friends that he regarded the patient 
in a dangerous condition. A noted physician of Gallipolis, 
who had a large practice in the neighborhood, but with whom 
James would not consult, was also called to see her. He took 
occasion to disparage James, telling Miss Berry's friends that 
the young doctor was ignorant of the science of medicine, 
that the patient was by no means in a serious condition, that 
her trouble was only the result of a slight cold, and that she 
would be well in a short time. But the young lady died, as 
James had anticipated, and his diagnosis of the case in oppo- 
sition to the views of his older and more experienced compet- 
itor, gave him a start in business and established his reputa- 
tion as a physician. 

During my two years course of study I read in succession 
the following works on medicine : 1. Cruvilhier's Human An- 
atomy. 2. Dunglison's Human Physiology, o. The United 
States Dispensatory. ' 4. Cooper's Surgical Dictionary. This 
was an excellent work on surgery, arranged in alphabetical 
order, and a standard authority on that subject. 5. Watson's 
Lectures on the Practice of Physic. This was an English 
work, revised by Dr. Francis Co«der, of Philadelphia. 6, 



28 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Churchill on Obstetrics. 7. Dewees on the Diseases of Chil- 
dren. 8. Wood's Theory and Practice of Medicine. 9. Wil- 
son's Human Anatomy. I used Hooper's Medico Lexicon as 
a book of reference on medical terms. These works, written 
and compiled by the most eminent physicians and specialists 
of Europe and America, were all of standard authority on the 
differeni subjects of which the}' treat. 

James, who was five years older than myself, had studied 
medicine under Dr. Joseph Dickson, of Albany. He had been 
a close student and observer, and was pains-taking in his 
efforts to advance my interest. There was in him kind-hearted- 
ness and industry, penetration and close reasoning, an un- 
clouded intellect, superiority to passion, solid judgment, and 
a directness that went straight to its end. He was of rare 
good humor, and fond of a practical joke. Composed and 
candid, he knew how to conciliate and convince. Firm in his 
convictions, free from rancor and suspicion of flattery, he 
could neither be cajoled or intimidated. 

When I had been with my brother about a week, a dispute 
arose between us in regard to the synonims of the Jamestown 
weed (Ditiird Siranioniuin.) I contended that thorn-apple and 
and Jamestown weed were one and the same plant ; but James 
differed in opinion, and to argue against him was like breath- 
ing against a trade-wind. After consulting the authorities on 
the suV>ject, we found that I was right. 

A few months after I began my course, Thompson Reeves, 
a brother-in-law of Jatnes' also commenced the study of medi- 
cine under his preceptorshij). This was a great help to us 
both. We studied togethor and were of mutual benefit to each 
other. 

During my stay at Addison, boating, swimming, and bathing, 
were my cliief sources of recreation. I was an excellent swim- 
mer, and swam across the Ohio on the first trial. I have since 
frequently swam thai river twice in succession without stop- 
ping. 

In those primitive times, dances and apple-cuttings were the 
sources of amusement among the young ; but I rarely went in 
society, for my time was largely occupied with my studies, I 
did not attend church regularly, for the nearest place of wor- 
ship was two miles distant. 



THOS. H. BARTON. ' 29 



Then as now, the Fourth of July was the great national holi- 
day. I have frequently thought that the old celebrations were 
superior to those of the present time. Less powder was burned 
and less bunting displayed, but there was more real patriot- 
ism and fraternal feeling among the people. A pleasant grove 
was selected, and when the day arrived the tables were set and 
loaded with the delicacies of the season. The procession was 
then formed, and it moved to the strains of martial music. 
Each gentleman escorted a lady, and they took their stations 
at opposite sides of the table. The Declaration of Independ- 
ence was read, and speeches were then made. The orator 
dwelt on the glories of his country ; on its vast extent, bounded 
only by the ocean, the lakes, and the gulf; on its immense re- 
courses, its variety of soil and climate, and on its mineral and 
agricultural wealth ; on the heroes of the revolution, the generals 
who achieved its triumphs, and on the statesmen who shaped 
the policy of tho government; on the stars and stripes as the 
emblem of his nationality; on the principles of civil liberty 
regulated by law, on the blessings we enjoy under its benign 
influence, and on the duties we owe to posterity to transmit 
unimpaired this the best birthright and noblest inheritence of 
mankind. 

I had the pleasure ot attending one of these old time gather- 
ings at Cheshire. Having procured a suitable conveyance, I 
sought the residence of Miss Francis Leonard, daughter of a 
wealthy farmer of that locality, and escorted her to the cele- 
bration. We took our position near the center of the proces- 
sion ; but the column was broken during the march, and we 
reached the table at the head of the procession. The day 
passed off pleasantly ; there were cordial greetings among 
friends and acquaintances, both at meeting and parting, and 
the exercises, conducted in their primitive simplicity, were en- 
joyed alike by the old and the young. 

The shade of a dead negro rises before me, like the ghost in 
the tragedy of Hamlet. Who is dead negro, and what shall I 
do with him? He is one of the unfortunate unknowns; and 
he died on a steamboat, and was buried one mile south of 
Campaign creek, on the bank of the Ohio. Here was an op- 
portunity to procure a skeleton. With this object in view, one 



30 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



dark night near the hour of twelve, James procured a skiff, 
and, in company with Mr. Reeves and myself, proceeded 
silently down the river. We were armed with spade and mat- 
tock, and moved cautiously, one rowing the skiff, and the 
others standing guard. Arrived at the grave, without any dis- 
turbance, we soon had the negro resurrected. We carried the 
body to the skiff, and re-interred it on the opposite side of the 
river, intending, when the excitement incident to such an oc- 
currence should subside, to repossess ourselves of the remains, 
dissect the body, and keep the bones for a skeleton. Next day 
intense excitement prevailed in the neighborhood. The tracks 
of carriage wheels were observed to go to and return from the 
empty grave. We were accused by some, but the general opin- 
ion was that other parties did the work. The remains, how- 
ever, were never again disturbed. 

In the winter of 1849-50, I taught the district school at Ad- 
dison. The number in attendance was small, but some of the 
scholars were well advanced. It was a pleasant and interesting 
school. There being a failure of the public funds, about one 
third of my salary was apportioned among the students, and 
the consequence was that I lost a part of it. Teachers of the 
present time have every reason to be thankful, for the common 
school laws of Ohio now afford ample means for their com- 
pensation. 

During the following winter I taught near the mouth of 
Kyger creek. Here I had some excellent scholars ; and I was 
paid from the public funds. This was much better than hav- 
ing to collect any part of my salary. While teaching, I con- 
tinued the study of medicine at night. 

It is not without a feeling of pride that I come to the first 
case in which I was called upon to administer medicine. It 
came about in this way. In the summer of 1850, my brother 
had an attack of cholera, and in a few hours, lost an abund- 
ance of adipose tissue. Dr. Morgan, of Gallipolis, was called, 
and, through his skill, together with the assistance of Mr. 
Reeves and myself, James was soon in a fair way to recover. 
One night shortly afterwards, a message was sent to my brother, 
requesting him to visit an old lady, named McCown, who was 
reported to have a violent attack of cholera morbus. Being 



THOS. H. BARTON. " 3^ 



unable to go, I was sent in his stead, and he gave me minute 
instructions in regard to the case. I was a young student of 
medicine, and the old lady and her friends were not well 
pleased with my visit, and insisted that James would have to 
come, sick or well, or they would send to Gallipolis for a phy- 
sician. I prevailed on them, however, to give her some medi- 
cine, which relieved her. They finally sent for my brother 
but when he arrived the patient was doing much better and 
soon afterwards recovered. His visit was unnecessary This 
occurred m the year succeeding the great cholera epidemic of 
1849. 

In 1832, the Asiatic cholera, or cholera asphixia, made its 
appearance in the United States for the first time, coming 
by way of Canada. Following the course of the large rivers 
it soon reached Buffalo ; and then spread irregularly, occurring 
in towns and cities, distant from each other, but without affect- 
ing the intervening districts till a subsequent period It ap- 
peared in the city of New York, June 27th, and continued two 
months, during which period there were three thousand four 
hundred deaths. In Albany it showed itself at the same time 
asm New York; and it spread rapidlv to the cities of Phila- 
delphia, Baltimore and Washington. It commenced in Cincin- 
nati in July, became epidemic in September, and continued 
through most of the summer of 1833. In the southern states 
It was particularly fatal amongst the slave population, who 
lell ready and easy victims to its power. The malady was 
fatal beyond all precedent, in New Orleans and St. Louis ; and 
the middle states never before knew so terrible a visitation 

From the north, the disease also extended itself along the 
borders of the great lakes, and soon its ravages began at 
Detroit. In the six eastern states there were only a few cases 
principally in the seaport towns of Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island and Connecticut. 

And now again, this fearful scourge reappeared, in 1849, to 
darken the land, carrying sorrow into many homes, terror 
into every heart, and sweeping tens of thousands into the 
grave. In New Orleans, it broke out about the middle of De- 
cember, 1848, and continued through the winter. So frightful 
were its ravages that it is estimated to have decimated the in- 



32 • AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



habitants that remained in some wards of the city. The 
pestilence made its appearance in New York in May, and so 
violent was its spread that during the week ending July 21st, 
more than seven hundred deaths occurred. In Boston, during 
June, July, August and September, the number of deaths from 
cholera exceeded six hundred. But it was far more terrible in 
Cincinnati and St. Louis, the victims in each of these cities being 
upwards of six thousand. Over the east and the west, the 
north and the south, the destro^dng angel spread his baleful 
wings. In view of this terrible calamity, the third day of 
August, 1849, was appointed by the President of the United 
States as a day of fasting and prayer, that God would " avert 
the pestilence that walketh in darkness, and the destruction 
that wasteth at noonday." 

Concerning the origin, or producing causes of cholera and 
other epidemics, authorities have differed so widely that little 
of a conclusive character on these points can be presented ; 
and the same may be said respecting the modes of treatment. 
In regard to cholera, a brief outline of the symptoms and 
progress of the disease may not be inappropriate. This fear- 
ful disease sometimes commences without any premonitory 
symptoms ; beginning with purging and vomiting — the first 
discharges being the natural contents of the stomach and 
bowels. These are immediately followed by liquid passages 
resembling rice-water, and not unfrequently having the ap- 
pearance of whey. The disease more frequently sets in with 
a painless diarrhoea, lasting from a few hours to one or two 
days. The evacuations soon become more copious, and 
almost incessant, from a pint to two quarts being passed at 
each discharge. Under the effects of these copious evacua- 
tions, attended by severe cramping of the extremities, the 
patient emaciates rapidly, and in a few hours the extremities 
become of an icy coldness ; the tongue, and even the breath, 
becomes cold ; the hands and feet look as if they had been 
soaked in water ; the countenance assumes a ghastly appear- 
ance ; the ])ulse becomes weak, thread-like, and finally ceases 
to beat; but life is even yet not extinct. A state of profound 
collapse now sets in; the victim lying motionless in his ])ed, 
or he is sometimes wild and delirious. His thirst is extreme, 



THOS. H. BARTON. 33 



and he is constantly calling for cold water, but although his 
extremities are icy cold, they appear to him hot and burning. 

This disease usually runs its course, from a few hours to 
two or three days, before a fatal termination takes place. If 
the patient recovers, a week or ten da^'s elapses before he is 
convalescent. The disease cannot be controled by thera- 
peutical remedies, except in the first stages. 

With respect to this awful visitation, it may be interesting 
as well as instructive, to notice some of the various phenom- 
ena that attended it. In no place, perhaps, were the effects of 
a deathly epidemic upon human conduct exhibited more strik- 
ingly than in the city of Philadelphia. The dread of the 
contagion drove parents from their children, and even wives 
from their husbands. All the ties of affection and con- 
sanguinity were rent asunder in the ardor of self-preserva- 
tion. Such was the degree of consternation, that, according 
to Mr. Carey, the historian of that period, most of the 
inhabitants who could by any means make it convenient, fled 
from the city ; of those that remained, many shut themselves 
up ia their houses, being afraid to walk the streets. The smoke 
of tobacco was regarded as a preventative, and mau}^ persons, 
even women and small boys, had cigars almost constantly in 
their mouths. Others, placing full confidence in garlic, 
chewed it almost the whole day ; some kept it in their pockets 
and shoes. Many houses were scarcely a moment free from 
the smell of gunpowder, burned tobacco, sprinkled vinegar, 
etc. Churches, libraries and other places of public resort 
were closed. Those persons who ventured abroad had hand- 
kerchiefs or sponges impregnated with vinegar or camphor at 
their noses; some had smelling bottles full of thieves' vinegar; 
others carried pieces of tarred rope in their hands and pockets, 
also camphor bags tied around their necks. The dead were car- 
ried to the grave on the shafts of a chair, the horse driven by a 
negro, unattended by friend or relation, and without any sort of 
ceremony. People shifted their course at the sight of a hearse 
coming towards them. Many never travelled on the side-walk, 
but went in the middle of the streets, to avoid being infected 
from the houses of the dead. Friends and acquaintances 
avoided each other on the highway, or only signified their re- 

5 



34 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



gard by a formal nod. The time-honored custom of hand- 
shaking fell into disrepute, and many recoiled with affright at 
even the proffer of a hand A person wearing crape or other 
appearance of mourning was shunned like a viper, and many 
congratulated themselves highly on the skill and address with 
which they got to the windward of any person whom they met. 
Consternation was carried beyond all bounds. Men of affluent 
fortunes were abandoned to the care of any stranger, black or 
white, who could be procured. In some cases, no money or in- 
fluence could procure proper attendance. In regard to the poor, 
the case was even far worse than with the rich. Many of them 
perished without a human being to hand them a drink of 
water, or to perform any medical or charitable office. 

Terrible as some of the cities of the United States have suf- 
fered from epidemics, they bear no comparison, in this respect, 
to the devastations by cholera in the cities of London and 
Paris, in the latter of which, with true French sensibility, 
the people have erected one of the finest monuments com- 
memorative of the unfortunate victims. 

The year 1850 was rendered memorable by the visit of 
Jenny Lind to the United States. The Swedish Nightingale 
arrived in New York on the first of September, and, after a 
successful tour of the Eastern cities, wended her way to the 
West. I did not see or hear her; but word was passed along 
the line that Jenny was coming, and I had the pleasure of view- 
ing the steamboat that carried the fair singer down the Ohio. 

During my course of study I was called upon, in several in- 
stances, to administer medicine. In the]case of Mrs. McCown, 
as already related, my efforts were crowned with success. On 
another occasion, while at home on a visit, my half-brother, 
John Wesley, had an attack of croup. Dr. Day, the family 
physician, being absent from home, I was requested to take 
charge of the case. I went to Dr. Day's office, and, with the 
assistance of Jared Stiles, a student of medicine, prepared some 
remedies — tartar emetic and ipecac — and the patient was 
quickly relieved. I will relate another instance wherein, ac- 
cording to my judgment, I acted with wisdom and discretion. 
A child of a near neighbor, named Carpenter, was suddenly 
taken with fever. I saw the child, and was requested to pre- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



35 



scnbe for it. This I refused to do, at the same time telling its 
mother to send for the family physician. The family doctor 

patient m too dangerous a condition for a novice in medicine 
1 am now approaching another important period of my ca- 
reer. I have reached another round of the ladder of life 
During my pleasant sojourn at Addison I had been assiduous 
in my studies, and had made good use of my time; but my 
funds were novv almost exhausted, and my financial condition 
^as such that I could no longer remain a student of medicine 
In view of this, and having selected a location, I resolved to 
begin my profession as a practicing physician. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE PRACTICING PHYSICIAN. 

This Chapter opens With the beginning of my chosen pro- 
fession. In July, 1851-1 think it was about the fourth of that 
month-I commenced the practice of medicine at Pageville 
I was recognized by the fraternity, and also bv the citizens as 
a physician,_though I think some of the people looked on me 
with suspicion, as being young and inefficient and lack- 
ing the ski and experience requisite to my chosen calling 
Moreover, there was another obstacle in the way, which I 
could not remove. A competitor, in the person of Dr. L P 
Lowell, a young physician of Albany, soon afterwards located 
at the same place. 

It is not the design of these pages to mention the numerous 
cases that demanded my services, or to weary the reader with 
minute details of medical practice. A limited number will be 
sufficient I trust that, ere the close of this volume, there will 
be enough that is of stirring interest to merit the reader's at- 
tention . 

I soon had an opportunity for testing my skill. One Sab- 
bath morning, while attending a singing-school, a gentleman 
came in great haste, requesting me to see a sick child I laid 
down the music-book, went with him, and soon relieved the 



36 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



patient of a large number of lumbricoid worms. On another 
occasion, I was called to treat a child whose parents were illit- 
erate. The case was not serious, and, after treating the child 
a few days, I pronounced it out of danger. Next day, how- 
ever, the child's father came for me in great haste, stating that 
it was worse, and requesting the attendance of Dr. Lowell for 
consultation. To this I consented ; hut only on the ground 
that Dr. Lowell's services were necessary. I saw the child 
myself, and found that it was hungry and crying for food. 
Although he was illiterate, I will give this man credit for re- 
questing counsel, instead of calling it without my knowledge 
or consent. In another instance, I was treating a lady who 
had an inflamed breast, which, in my experience, is a painful 
affection. Finally, an old physician, whose name I do not 
now remember, was called for consultation. The old doctor 
suggested that the breast was ready for the lancet. I disagreed 
with him, but he, being the oldest and having the most experi- 
ence, prevailed, and he- plunged the lancet into the forming 
abcess, only to draw a few drops of blood. A few days after- 
wards I opened the abcess, letting out the puss or matter, and 
the patient was quickly relieved. 

I had several cases of surgery, and gave fair satisfaction; 
three cases of obstetrical practice, with success ; and I lost one 
case. I was called to see a child that was deaf and dumb, and 
was unable to determine what ailed it. The patient had symp- 
toms of cerebro spinal meningitis. The symptoms also re- 
sembled lockjaw ( Tetanus,) and also strychnine poisoning. ^ At 
this time I had never heard or read of cerebro spinal meningitis. 
The child died on the following day, being the only case Host 
during my practice at Pageville. 

I passed the time pleasantly at this quiet village. Being 
near my old home, I was enabled frequently to visit and review 
the scenes of my childhood. I passed part of my leisure hours 
in company with the young ladies ; and was a frequent attend- 
ant at church and sabbath-school. During the winter, a ly- 
ceum was organized, of which the Rev. T. A. Welsh was 
chosen president, and I participated in the literary exercises. 
Meanwhile, I continued my studies, and endeavored, by all the 
means within my power, to make myself proficient in the 
science of medicine. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 37 



Dr. Lowell was gentlemanly in his deportment, and treated 
me with courtesy; but it soon became evident that two yoimj/ 
physicians could not maintain themselves here. Being a mar- 
ried man, and the owner of real estate, my opponent had the 
advantage. In May, 1852, I visited my brother at Addison, 
and he informed me that there was a more favorable location 
at the mouth of Thirteen, in Mason County, Virginia. Having 
visited that place, and being pleased with the situation, I con''- 
cluded to locate there. I left the field to Dr. Lowell, who, by 
some means, lost his property and moved away, leaving the 
village without a physician. Before parting with him, I will 
mention one case that came under his treatment, a lady, the 
mother of a child that cried with hunger, suddenly fell ill, and 
the young doctor was called to treat the case; but the lady 
died soon after he commenced treating her. I have related 
this fact, not with a view to disparage Dr. Lowell, but to cau- 
tion the young disciples of Esculapius that they need not ex- 
pect that success will attend them in every instance, or that 
they will meet with universal approval ; for in my experience, 
the old addage still holds good, 

"I do not like you Di- DeH, 
The reason why, I cannot teU." 

The village of Leon, at which I fixed my location, is pleas- 
antly situated on the right bank of the Kanawha river, twelve 
miles above Point Pleasant. I left Pageville in June, and 
having arrived at my destination, proceeded to inform the good 
people of Leon, and the adjacent country, that I had come 
among them for the purpose of practicing medicine, trusting 
that, by careful attention to my profession, to merit a share 
of their patronage. Thomas Dunn kept a hotel at Leon, and 
I took up my residence with him. 

It is not an easy task to describe the state of society as 
it then existed in Western Virginia. The grades of social 
standing were much more closely drawn than in Ohio. There 
were three classes of society : first, second and third, or per- 
haps it would be fully as well to designate them ; upper ten 
middle ten, and lower ten. The distinguishing feature of 
these classes was, that they consisted, respectively, of the 
wealthy, the middle class, and the poor. Here and there 



38 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



could be found an old locofoco, who owned a few slaves, and 
who prided himself on his aristocratic standing, and influ- 
ence in his community. Wealth and influence, however, were 
not the only passports to the best society. A moderate com- 
petence, with a record of good moral character, were also 
deemed necessary qualifications. Educational facilities were 
limited, and the tone of society in its intellectual aspect, 
seemed of an inferior grade. An illustration of this may be 
obtained from the following facts. Elisha Chapman, a resi- 
dent of Leon, was a subscriber to the Saturday Evening Post; 
a weekly newspaper published in New York. This paper con- 
tained serial stories, and among the number was a novel en- 
titled : ''The Curse of Clifton." I had the pleasure of reading 
this novel to several of my female acquaintances : The land- 
lady with whom I boarded, two old married ladies, and two or 
three 3'ounger ones, being of the number. I was heard witli the 
greatest attention. Although these ladies belonged to the Ijest 
society, and moved amongst the up}>er ten, the novel was ac- 
cepted by them as if every statement it contained was a posi- 
tive fact. Other instances fell under my observation, which 
tended to establish the truth of m3^ conclusion in regard to the 
intellectual standing of Virginia society. 

I began my profession at Leon with a fair prospect oi suc- 
cess. Beginning with a case of catarrhal croup, I had some 
practice every week till the first of August. In the preceding 
April, there had been a flood of the Ohio and Kanawha, known 
as the great flood of 1852. All the low ground in the vicinity 
of Leon was submerged with back-water from the Oliio. There 
was also a rank growth of vegetation, and, by the first of August, 
tho soil and atmosphere were in a condition to generate a 
miasma called malaria. About this time malarial feyer broke 
out on both sides of the Kanawha, and raged with great 
violence—three or four members of a family being often alfected 
at the same time. It fell to my lotto treat these cases and I at 
once recognized the disease as malarial remittent fever, com- 
monly called bilious fever. In some of the most serious cases, 
counsel was called from Point Pleasant, and also from Buffalo. 
The physicians, who were called for consultation, treated me 
very courteously, and aided me all they could. My brother 



THOS. H. BARTON, 39 



also came to see some of my patients. During this time, I 
treated a large number of cases, and was kept constantly em- 
ployed, both day and night. For two or three weeks I had 
very little rest, and began to feel like the Arkansaw doctor 
when he proposed " hauling in sail." 

This fever commences with a moderate chill, and generally 
lasts from three to eight days. In some of the most serious 
cases, the fever is of high grade, attended with violent head- 
ache, hot and dry skin, violent delirium, and vomiting ; the 
pulse full and tense, rangiiig from one hundred and twenty to 
one hundred and thirty. In from six to eight hours these 
symptons begin to abate, the fever ending in a mikl prespira- 
tion. Their is the remission, lasting from two to eight hours. 
The patient then experiences another chill of moderate severity, 
followed by an increase of the above symptoms, unless the 
disease is arrested by proper remedies. By prompt and ener- 
getic treatment this malady is easily controlled. During this 
epidemic, or rather endemic, I had the satisfaction of knowing 
that all my patients recovered. 

About the first of Se])tember, Dr. 0. G. Chase, who had 
formerly been located at Leon, put in an appearance ; and pro- 
posed that we practice in partnership. To this proposition I 
relunctantly gave my consent, and soon found that I had 
"caught a tartar." Dr. Chase was a remarkable man in many 
ways. He wat' well educated and intelligent, and boasted that 
he had attended three different schools of medicine, the Allo- 
])athic (the regular school,) the Eclectic, and the Homeopathic 
He claimed to be fresh from the Homeopathic college at Cincin- 
nati, but he did not attempt to practice that system of medicine. 
He paid no attention to any code of medical ethics, and would 
do all in his power against his fellow-physicians, not even ex- 
cepting his associate in business. Amongst the profession, 
like Ishmael of old, "his hand was against every man, and 
every man's hand against him." 

The autumnal frosts killed the malaria, and the fever abat- 
ed. During the fall and winter there were some cases of 
malarial intermittent fever. Late in the fall. Dr. Chase and I 
dissolved partnership, though we kept on terms of friendship 
and intimacy, and disagreed only in the practice of medicine. 



40 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



I will report one case that came under my treatment at this 
time. A lady, about fift}' years old, had malarial fever with a 
typhoid type. Her case was protracted longer than usual, and 
she was considerably reduced in flesh and strength. The fever, 
however, had nearly abated, and, at this stage, a physician 
from Point Pleasant was called for consultation. He looked 
and acted like a gentleman ;but he came in a state of intoxica- 
tion, examined the patient in that condition, ]ironounced her 
liver diseased, and recommended calomel. I feigned to agree 
with him, for he treated me very politely. Subsequentl}' , how- 
ever,! informed the lady's husband that calomel was unneces- 
sary, and that she stood in need of tonics. These were ad- 
ministered, and she soon afterwards recovered. 

This ef)idemic, or perhaps I should again call it an endemic, 
afforded me an excellent schooling in the treatment of malar- 
ial disease. 1 lost no cases of malarial fever; j'et, regardless 
of all this, I failed to have my services properly appreciated. 
Some people said that I looked too 3''oung for a j^hysician, 
while others claimed that I was inexperienced, but that witli 
time and practice I would improve. Others, again, thought 
that my habits and do})ortment were too plain and common. 
One man, a fisherman by occupation, told me plainly, that I 
cured my patients too quickly ; that they came to the conclu- 
sion that but little ailed them; that had I let them become 
very low, and then cured them, I would get great praise for 
my skill and ability. Bear in mind, there is much truth in 
this man's logic. I was compared rather unfavorably with 
Dr. Chase. And this reminds me of the words of an Irishman, 
who made the comparison. John Dunn, a genuine son of 
Erin, informed my land-lady that he had beard })eople say : 
"Whin Docthor Barthon ixamined a patient, ha'd procade 
shlovAly, and whin he was done ha'd sit and study about it 
jest as if he didn't know what to do. But the ither fellow 'ud 
fale their pulse a minute, and look at the patient, and ha'd 
know all about it." I proceeded, however, on the motto of 
David Crockett : "Be sure j'ou are right and then go ahead." 

Regardless of these unfavorable criticisms. I now began to 
entertain bright anticipations of the future; and felt assured 
that I would soon have sufficient means to attend a course of 



THOS. H. BARTON. 41 



lectures at a medical college. But the fees for medical services 
were extremely low ; yet, low as they were, I was unable to 
collect more than fifty percent, of mine. In consequence of 
this, I was compelled to abandon the hope of a collegiate 
education. 

I have already remarked that educational facilities, in Vir- 
ginia, were limited. During ihe winter Dr. Chase and I taught 
school in the same neighborhood. The schools were about 
half a mile apart. This may seem strange to the teachers of 
Ohio schools ; but in Virginia the schools were made up wholly 
by subscription. There were no directors, or boards of educa- 
tion, with authority to employ any one. The expectant teacher 
circulated a paper among the people for signatures, and if a 
suflicient number of pupils could be obtained, the school would 
be taught. The wealthy and middling classes paid their tuition, 
and the poor were educated from a fund provided by the 
county. The rate of tuition was fixed at about two dollars 
and fifty cents for a term of three months. The teacher certi- 
fied as to those who ware unable to pay, and received the 
amount of their tuition from the county treasur\\ 

I am uncertain, at this writing, whether Dr. Chase or myself 
first applied for the school. Be that as it may, he obtained 
the largest number of scholars. While he canvassed for the 
school he also solicited subscriptions for a History of the War 
of the Revolution ; and a number of persons were led to be- 
lieve that the book was a premium for sending their children 
to his school. However, when the histories were delivered, 
the subscribers were required not only to pay for the ])ooks, 
but the tuition of their children as well. 

The spring of 1853 opened pleasantly, and was followed by 

a warm and dry summer. Such weather is conducive to healtli 

in the region of the Kanawha, and there was very little malarial 

fever during this 3^ear. 

******* 

Love, courtship, marriage ; these words form the links of a 
delicate chain from which has been unwreathed many a 
romance. But I am not a Lothario, and in my story the reader 
will find nothing romantic. Although not a stranger to love 
and its subtle influences, I did not enter the field of courtship 



42 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



at an early age. I was in my nineteenth year ere I sought the 
society of young ladies, and some of my first offerings at the 
shrine of the god of love were rejected. Being very large? 
tall and somewhat awkward in my manners, I did not make 
the most favorable impression, and I entered society only to 
be jilted a few times by the fair sex. Time, however, cures 
many defects, and during my sojourn at Pageville, I had 
sufficiently thrown off the embarrassments of youth, and had 
acquired such a degree of self-possession, as to make m3self 
acceptable to my female acquaintances. I have heretofore re- 
marked that while at Pageville I passed a portion of my 
leisure hours in female society. I had a strong attachment for 
Miss A. N., and a))out the same time, felt a deep afllection for 
for MiSiS A. B. Tliey were estimable young ladies; but I had 
as yet no thought of marriage. 

I now return to Leon. The state of society in western 
Virginia has already been sufficiently described. I will only 
add that the grades of social standing were so closely drawn 
that when marriage was consummifted between those of a 
different grade, the couple were regarded as being unequally 
matched. 

There was no church society at Leon, but the Baptists had 
a church two miles up the river, near the turn|)ike. Religious 
services were held here monthl}', and the people would attend 
from several miles around, and the old building would gen- 
erally be crowded to its utmost capacity. I was a frequent 
attendant at this church, not from religious motives, but to 
enjoy the society of the Virginia damsels. It was the custom 
then, as it has been, no doubt, from time immemorial, for the 
young gentlt^nien to escort tlieir lady friends to chur(>h. 

The thread of my narrative now takes me back a few months 
in the ord*^' of time One Sabhath morning, in the })receding 
October, that is to say, in October, 1852, I attended church, 
and had the pleasure of escorting Miss J. G., an estimable 
young lady of the first class, to her home. I had left my horse 
in the stable and come afoot, for no other purpose than to 
enjoy the company of Miss J. G. We passed the time pleas- 
antly, and while walking along the road, three couple of young 
gentlemen and ladies rode hy, and as they dashed past us, I 



THOS. H. BARTON. 43 



was favorably impressed with the appearance of one of the 
young ladies. Turning to my companion, I inquired who this 
young lady was, and where she resided. Miss J. G. informed 
me that her name was Martha Newman, and that she lived 
four miles below Leon, on the opposite side of the Kanawha ; 
telling me, at the same time, that Miss Newman was a friend 
and acquaintance of hers, aud that she was a very respectable 
young lady. I only remarked that she was ver}' handsome. 
Miss J. G. replied : " Doctor, you will probably marry her 
some time in the future." I simply answered : " I think 
not." 

From that moment, I desired the acquaintance of the fair 
Martha. Her name was Martha Maria, and during the winter 
I improved every opportunity in a quiet way to learn some- 
thing of her character. Every one spoke well of her. The 
only fault, if fault it may be called, that I learned of her was 
that she was accused of being a coquette. Meanwhile, I 
devoted my attention to Miss E. T., a young lady of respecta- 
bility, and when spring came had almost given up Martha. I 
had failed to make her acquaintance. How shall I accompli,«h 
this? Oh, for the boldness of an Othello ! that I might go 
directly to her father's house, recount my deeds of valor, and 
demand the hand of his daughter in marriage ! 

The long desired moment at length arrived. One Sabbath 
morning, in the time of April showers, Mr. Kaufman, a friend 
and acquaintance of mine, called at my office and requested 
me to accompany him to the residence of Hamilton Greenlee, 
and from there we. would go to church. I at first objected. 
Mr. Kaufman then informed me that Miss Newman was at Mr. 
Greenlee's. Here was the golden opportunit}' ; shall I embrace 
it? My resolution is instantly taken : Yes, I will go to Ham- 
ilton Greenlee's. 

I make some sort of preparations for the visit, but I am so 
bewildered, that I hardly know what they were. I have an 
indistinct recollection of brushes, and combs, and bead's 
grease ; of polished boots, of starched shirts, and of fancy 
handkerchiefs ; of my spending a good deal of time before 
the mirror, arranging my cravat; of my toilet Ijeing com- 
pleted, and of my being at last ready to go ; of our walking 



44 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



quietly along the road that balmy April morning; of arriv- 
ing at Mr. Greenlee's house, and of being kindly welcomed bv 
Miss Jane Greenlee. I am in a kind of half-sleeping, half- 
waking dream. 

" Doctor Barton, I make you acquainted with Miss Martha 
Newman. Miss Newman, Doctor Barton." It is the y)leasant 
voice of Miss J. G., who makes the introduction. No doubt I 
hear this, because I know that it was said. I make a bow, in 
a mechanical sort of a wa}', and speak to Martha; but I can- 
not recall the words, for I am in such a state that I hardly 
know or realize what is going on. 

The lady who stood before me was abi)ut twenty-three years 
of age, and a little below the medium height. She was of fair 
comf)lexion, dark hair, and blue eyes. Her form was faultless ; 
her voice seemed gentle and melodious; her manners appeared 
elegant and refined, and her every movement was attended 
with grace and dignity. 

We went to church. A number of young gentlemen and 
ladies went in company. On this delightful April morning 
the sun shone brightly, and the birds sang sweetly ; but the 
shining of the sun, and the singing of the birds had no eflect 
upon me. All nature seemed wrapped up in Martha. As we 
walked along the road, a great, awkward fellow, with red hair, 
but with a good deal of impetuosity about him, managed, in 
some way, to place himselt by the side of Martha. Although 
cool and collected, I have a tii^ge of jealousy of R(h1 Top, 
and fear that, for the present, at least, it is all over with me. 

The church is a, (juiet (mougb ]i]ace, I am sure; butit might 
be an iron furnace in full blast, for any sedative eflf'ect it has 
on me ; I am too far gone for that. 

The service i'^ at length got through with, (juictly and 
gravely, and we all walk away together. liut now I succeed 
in placing myself by her side. Bed Top is done for, and I 
care no more for him. / walked with Martha, / talked with 
Martha, and /escorted her to the residence of a friend nearby- 
It is the home of William Sullivan, where two of her brothers 
are boarding, and I passed a ])leasant evening in her company 
there. 

The suspense of many months is over. The turmoil of the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 45 



day is passed. The storm is succeeded by a calm. I am in 
the presence of Martha. We have an hour or two of quiet 
conversation together, and she informs me that she will be 
pleased to entertain me at her father's house, one week from the 
following Saturday evening. 

Why does every one appear to look on me with suspicion 
this Saturday afternoon, as I wend my way down the Kana- 
wha? I inquire for the most convenient place to cross the 
river and the fellow accuses me of going to see Miss Newman. 
I am ferried across the stream by some men, who are working 
on a raft, and they accuse me of going to see Miss Newman. 
They seem to understand my affairs so well, that they inform 
me of the Newman residence, and direct me to it, without my 
having to inquire for its locality. 

I approach the Newman home with a light heart and a 
vigorous step, and am received at the door with a friendly 
greeting from Martha, " Doctor Barton, this is my father ; my 
mother. Doctor Barton," I am standing in the presence of her 
parents. 

Walter Newman was approaching his three score years and 
ten. He was of medium size and heighth, but his form was 
somewhat bent with age, and his hair was white with the frosts 
of many winters. Moreover he seemed careworn, as if the 
burdens of life set heavily upon him. He was an owner of 
real estate, but I did not know how much, I afterwards learned 
that he had once been in affluent circumstances, and owned a 
farm in Mason county, where Hartford City now stands. 

Elizabeth Newman, who was about fifteen years younger 
than her husband, was of medium heighth, and appeared strong 
and robust. Her hair was slightly tinged with gray, but she 
was graceful in her appearance. She was well preserved ; her 
step was elastic, and the bloom of youth still lingered on her 
cheeks. The elder Newmans were members of the M. E. 
church, as was also Martha. 

I soon became a frequent visitor at the Newman residence. 
My attention to Martha was assiduous, and I passed many 
pleasant hours in her compan}'. We went to church together 
and took pleasant rambles through the fields and wood, gath- 
ering wild flowers, and conversing on the beauties of nature. 



46 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



Still, I am credulous, I am in a kind of half-hopeful, half- 
doubtful state ; for I have been told that Martha is a coquette, 
and how am I to know that she may not be leading me on, 
till far enough, and then cast me off? However, I am very 
careful in my advances, and take affairs calmly. Still, I am 
desperately in earnest, and by the middle of July, we are en- 
gaged to be married. 

The form of a rival, who seeks to supplant me in the affect- 
ions of the fair Martha, rises before me. Who is this rival? He 
is a young widower, and is represented as being a local 
preacher, and a good business man. I am informed of this 
afterwards by Martha herself. And now comes the strange, if 
not romantic, part of my story. About this time, a young lady 
came to visit the Newmans ; I was introduced to her by Martha, 
and I gave these young ladies my undivided attention. The 
visitor was a sister-in-law of my rival, and her visit occurred at 
the same time my competitor made his appearance. She was 
handsome, graceful, agreeable in conversation, but her con- 
duct puzzled me. When in her society she seemed more than 
ordinarily friendly, and her advances led me to believe (or 
were designed to do so) that my company was very agreeable 
and that I occupied a place in her affections. Can it be that 
she was trying to win me from Martha, and thus make the 
way clear for her brother-in-law, and when this is accomplished, 
then cast me off? But the best laid plains of the most skill- 
ful tacticians sometirwes fail. No general, either in siege or 
battle, conducted his operations more cautiously or skillfully 
than I did : and while my rival talked philosophy to the old 
people, I whispered love to Martha. 

It has been said that the course of true love never did run 
smoothly. One Sabbath morning, while on my way to visit a 
patient, wlio lived on the opposite side of the river from Leon, 
I fell in company with a young lady, and walked for a short 
distance with her; and while walking together, we were over- 
taken by Lawrence, a brother of Martha. Mr. Newman took 
umbrage at this affair, for he no doubt supposed that I was this 
young lady's gallant, and that I would prove untrue to his 
sister. But in this he was mistaken ; and I may here add, that 
my engagement with Martha was my first, and that she alone 
was the subject of my afiections. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 47 



During m}^ next visit, I perceived that a change had come 
over her. That unavoidable affair had come to her knowl- 
edge, and, no doubt, she entertained doubts in regard to my 
honor. But she did not mention the occurrence and only re- 
quested me to obtain a certificate of good moral character 
from my friends in Ohio. To this I objected, but told her that 
she might write to some of the leading gentlemen of Meigs 
County in regard to my standing. She was satisfied, and, 
from this time forward, there was nothing to change the cur- 
rent of our affections. To her views of this affair I attached 
no blame, for she had always associated with the best society, 
and she stood high in the estimation of her friends. 

And now I am about to be married to Martha. Her father 
and mother have given their consent ; the nuptials are to be 
solemnized at the bride's residence, and the marriage cere- 
mony is to be performed by the Rev. Taylor, of the M. E. 
Church. 

We were married on the fifteenth of September. A few of 

her nearest relatives, and one gentleman whom I had invited, 

were the onl}'- guests at our quiet wedding. I hear the solemn 

words pronounced, and know that we are now united in the 

bonds of matrimony. 

******* 

A neat little cottage, with an office attached, stands in the 
village of Leon. I had purchased this property some time 
before our marriage, giving my house in part payment. The 
wedding tour — a visit to my brother at Addison — being com- 
pleted, and having spent a short time at her father's house, we 
moved to Leon and began the journey of life. 

During the succeeding winter, I taught school at Leon, and 
when absent from home on professional duty, Martha, who 
had sufficient education, taught the scholars. On one occa- 
sion, Twas called to visit a patient, who lived several miles 
distant, and did not return till the following day. On reach- 
ing home, I found that my wife had opened the school; she 
was hearing a class in reading and perfect order prevailed. 
Had a pin fallen on the floor the noise would have been per- 
ceptible. I have no doubt that the scholars liked her better 
than they did me. About the same time we also assisted in 
organizing a Union Sabbath School. 



48 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



The summer and fall of 1854, like the preceding year, was 
warm and dry. I carefully attended to ray professional duties, 
and, in general, was successful, I do not remember losing a 
patient during that year. In Januar}^, I commenced taking 
the American Journal of Medical Sciences. This is one of 
the best medical journals in the world, and the Medical News 
and Library came with it. While at Leon, I continued to 
take these journals, spent much of my time in study, and 
thus endeavored to make myself successful in the practice of 
medicine. 

I can not close this period of my history without a parting 
shot at Dr. Chase. He and I were now trying to see which of us 
could stand the hardest knocks, and hold out longest. There 
was great diversity of opinion in regard to our respective merits. 
Some persons even said that Dr. Chase did not read medical 
works, and that he knew it all without reference to the books. 
Great idea ! About this time the young doctor took to him- 
self a better half, but soon after sought another location, 
leaving the practice to me. Although he was my competitor, 
and an active partizan, yet, at this writing, I entertain no 
unkind feelings towards him, and in closing my connection 
with him, endeavor to cast the mantle of charity over all his 
faults. 

Throughout the spring and summer of 1855, my practice was 
fair, and having no competition, I had hopes of establishing 
myself permanently at Leon, but the events of that year, which 
I am now to record, changed my destiny. 

On New Year's day, our home was gladdened by the presence 
of a little stranger, who came to visit us. We named him 
James Walter, but he was not a rugged child, and when the 
cliilling winds of March arrived he became affected with 
pneumonia. His life was but a span, the Spirit lingered faintly 
in its mortal tenement, and unconscious of its earthly exis- 
tence, took wing. 

"Flowers forever are springing 

In that home so fair, 
Thousands of eliiUlren are singing 

Praises to Jesus there , 
How they swell the glad anthems, 
Ever around the bright throne ; 
When, O when shall I see thee, 
Beautiful, beautiful home." 



TSOS. H. BARTON. 49 



We lost our first born on the twentieth of March ; but my 
cup of sorrow was, as yet, unfilled, and although more than a 
third of a century has passed away, the scenes of those days 
are still vivid to ray memory. 

In the last days of June, scarlet fever made its appearance 
in the vicinity of Leon ; and from a distance, there was also 
rumor of small-pox. Martha requested to be vaccinated, and, 
having no vaccine virus at hand. Dr. White, of Buffalo, per- 
formed the operation. This was in the first week of July. The 
virus took efiect, and was apparently running its natural 
course. 

On the following Sabbath morning, Martha and I walked to 
the top of an eminence, overlooking the village of Leon. There 
was a beautiful prospect of a Kanawha village; the river 
flowed at our feet; the forrests were clothed in green, and the 
clustered village in the valley below appeared like a gem in 
the stretch of landscape. We conversed on the scenery around 
us, and all nature seemed in harmony with our thoughts. 
Martha and I had never before passed the time so pleasantly 
as we did on this occasion. Ah, little did I then know what 
another week would bring forth ! 

On Tuesdc^y morning, she arose with a fever, which increased 

during the day, and in the evening the rash of scarlet fever 

made its appearance. Her throat was very much inflamed, 

and, in spite of all my efforts she continued slowl}' to fail. I 

think it was on Thursday, that Dr. White was called to see 

her, but our united endeavors proved unavailing. 

******* 

It is Saturday morning, I have watched with her throughout 
the long vigils of the night, and I now know that my wife will 
soon leave me. I have taken that truth to heart. I have tried, 
however imperfectly, to resign myself, and to control myself. 
I had parted with loved ones before, but I am now called upon 
to bear a deeper sorrow. 

I have withdrawn myself from her for a moment, and our 
servant comes to me, with tears in her eyes, and tells me : 
"Martha has requested me to meet her in heaven." 

It is over, a sense of profound sorrow comes over me, and 
for a time, I am crushed beneath this load of grief. I en- 

7 



50 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



deavored, however feebly, to seek consolation in the lines I 
have dedicated to her memory : 

"There is a home eternal, 

Beautiful and bright, > 

Where sweet joys supernal 

Never are dimmed by night ; 
White robed angels are singing, 
Ever around the bright throne ; 
When, O, when, shall 1 see thee, 

Beautifnl, beautiful home." 

******* 

The Rev. Totton, of the M. E. Church, preached the funeral. 
The text was from the eleventh verse (latter clause) of the 
fourth chapter of Amos. I returned from the solemn cere- 
mony lonely and sad. I can not describe the state of my 
mind beneath its load of sorrow^ It seemed that the future 
was walled up to me, that the energy and action of my life 
were at an end, and that all that was dear to me lay buned in 
the grave. For a time, my fondest hopes and anticipations 
lingered round the simple tablet, which marks her last resting 
place near the village of Leon. 

"The hopes that my soul have cherished. 

Have withered, one by one. 
And tho' life's flowers have perished, 

I'm left to linger on." 

******* 

From this scene cf sorrow, I must now resume the journey 
of my story. 

Soon after the death of my wife, I visited my relations in 
Ohio, and they sympathized with me in my bereavement. 
Having spent a week or two with my friends in Meigs County, 
I returned to Leon, being determined to establish mj^self in 
practice there. I soon had an abundance of work, for one of 
those epidemics of malarial fever had again made its appear- 
ance. 

I had always been healthy, and free from sickness, other 
than the troubles incident to childhood. My constitution was 
robust and I little thought that I would have to succumb to 
the malady of malaria, and that my powerful frame would be 
shaken with the disease. But I soon became affected ^v^ith 
this fever, and at the same time, one of my wisdom teeth (last 



Titos. H. Barton. 51 



molar) begin to make its appearance. The result of this erup- 
tion was an abcess of the lower maxila and the cheek, which 
disabled me so much, that for the time being, I again visited 
my brother at Addison. He treated me for the fever, and I 
had the offending tooth extracted by Dr. Sternraan, of 
Gallipolis. 

On the first of November I was again among the hills of 
Western Virginia, once more willing to plunge into the swamps 
and fogs of the Kanawha valley. From the hale, strong man 
that I had been, I was changed to a feeble looking person with 
a sallow complexion. But my health was improving. I at- 
tended strictly to my professional duties, having all that I 
could do throughout November. When threatened with a 
chill, I took the usual quantity of quinine. The frosts of 
December, however, had a salutary effect, and relieved the 
people from the scourge of malaria. 

About this time a teacher of geography came into the 
neighborhood, and proposed to organize a class in this study. 
He used Pelton's maps, on which were engraved the natural 
and political divisions of the earth, and the location of the 
large cities and towns. No names were printed on the maps, 
and a key was used, containing descriptive poetry, and also 
letters and figures, ^vhich referred to the maps. This system 
of teaching geography consisted of learning to sing the des- 
criptive poetry. 

I attended this school, not from educational motives, but 
for the purpose of recreation, and in order to relieve the 
monotony of my surroundings. Still, I took an interest in the 
school, and, having an excellent memory, soon became pro- 
ficient in the geographical exercises. I here append a frag- 
ment of the poetry on South America. 

"The map which here we station, 
For present explanation, 
Is a delineation 

Of South America. 
And now 'tis our commission, 
To sing of each division, 
The name with great precision. 
Each ocean, sea and bay. 

"The mountains are before us. 
Their snowy tops rise o'er us. 
And now in lively chorus 



52 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



With the Andes we commence, 
See, Acarai ascending, 
Lo, Geral's cliffs impending, 
Brazilian range extending. 

And volcan's vapor dense. • 

"Illimani next in order. 
Stands upon Bolivia's border, 
Like a bold gigantic warder, 

And Sorata'sheighths ascend, 
Cotopaxi next we mention, 
Give Pichincha some attention. 
And with the steep ascension, 

Of the Chimborazo end. 

"All this we mean to mention. 
To help your apprehension. 
So give Your best attention 
To all that we may say." 

These lines were sung to the tune of " We're a Band of Free- 
man," contained in the Ohio Harmonist. The poetic feet are 
imperfect, though the harmony and melody of the tune is 
good. The preceptor, whose name I do not now remember, 
was a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, and his school was 
well attended, the novelty of the exercises attracting quite a 
number of scholars. 

The winter of 1855-6 was excessively cold. During Janu- 
ary and February, there was snow upon snow, and it did not 
melt away till the last of March. And now my health im- 
proved rapidly, and I tipped the beam at one hundred and 
eighty. But I still felt the loneliness of my situation, and 
tried, in many ways, to be cheerful and jovial, in order to pass 
away the time. " Coasting," or sliding down hill on boards^ 
was my chief source of recreation. I soon became proficient in 
this exercise, and could glide down precipitous highths for 
hundreds of yards with perfect safety. I became an expert, and 
could take children in my arms, and carry them along without 
the least danger. 

From my last visit to Ohio, I had returned to Leon with the 
intention of making that place my permanent residence. But 
the loss of my wife still laid heavily upon my mind. When 
at home with her father and mother, I did not enjoy myself as 
I formerly did. I had been very successful in my practice, 
but the fees for medical services, as already stated, were ex- 
tremely low and difficult of collection. There was very little 



THOS. H. BARTOy. 53 



practice during the spring and summer of 1856, but u|) to 
this time I had no idea of changing m}' location. In June 
I visited my father at Harrisonville, and also mj' cousins, 
Joseph and Jackson Heaton. On learning of my bereavement, 
my cousins informed me that Chester, Ohio, would be a good 
location, there being no physician at that place except Dr. 
Cornell, who was old and feeblo. I visited Chester, was 
pleased with the situation, and decided to make the change. 
The last days of June were fixed upon for my departure from 
the shores of the Kanawha. I severed my connections with 
my new made friends and relatives, and, not without the 
deepest emotions, bade farewell to father and mother New- 
man. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE PRACTICING PHYSICIAN. 

The village of Chester is locat-^d on the left bank of Shade 
river, near the center of the township, and about seven miles 
from the Ohio river, at the mouth of Kerr's run. In 1822 the 
county seat was located here by commissioners appointed by 
the Legislature, and in due time the usual public buildings were 
erected. This location of the county seat drew after it the 
usual result, an increase of business and inhabitants, and for 
twenty years it was a busy and prosperous town. A large 
number of new buildings were erected. An educational insti- 
tute was incorporated under the name of " Meigs Count}' High 
School and Teachers' Institute,^' and a neat, substantial brick 
edifice was erected for its use. In 1841 the county seat was 
removed to Pomeroy. In consequence of this action, much 
business was taken away from the town, and many citizens 
left the place. 

Chester is pleasantly situated. The court-house and 
seminary occupy a conspicuous position upon an eminence 
near the center of the town, thus giving the village a pictur- 
esque and antique appearance from a distance. There is still 
a considerable amount of business transacted at Chester, as it 



54 AUT0BI0C4RAPHY OF 



is the center of an extensive and prosperous farming com- 
munity. 

At the time of my locating at this place, there were two 
churches : the Methodist Episcopal and the Presbyterian. The 
old court house was unoccupied, and the seminary building 
was used for school purposes. There was one hotel, kept by 
John Bestow, with whom I boarded. 

The second of July, 1856, found me once more in Ohio, 
and located at the village of Chester, ready to offer my services 
in the healing art. On the fourth the people held a celebra- 
tion of the national holiday. I attended this gathering, and 
was well pleased with the exercises. 

During the first two weeks I had some professional calls. I 
then observed a number of hand-bills posted by the side of 
mine, and headed as follows : " Dr. J. W. McGath, Eclectic 
Practitioner of Medicine and Surgery." These hand-bills 
read : " After nine years of careful observation and study, he 
has become perfectly satisfied that efficient substitutes have 
been found for mercury and all such indigestible agents. 
Hence the superiority of the eclectic over the alopathic system 
of medicine." I will here remark that although a practitioner 
of the alopathic system, I have always studied and used the 
common sense system as well. 

It did not take me long to size up Dr. McGath, for I soon 
found that he was an impostor, not knowing the first princi- 
ples of the science of medicine. At first, however, he had 
more practice than I, for he was regarded by many as my 
equal, and, no doubt, a large portion of the people looked 
upon him as my superior as a physician. 

One day, while absent from the village, a call was left at my 
office. The patient lived in the country, and Dr. McGath was 
taken to see the case. After returning to the hotel, and 
learning that a call had been left for me, I went to see the 
sick man, and found that Dr. McGath had been there, pro- 
nounced the disease pneumonia, and prescribed for the case. 
His dose was ten drops of the tincture of veratrum viride, to be 
given every four hours. This medicine is a powerful arterial 
sedative, and may do for a robust person, but not for one in 
delicate health. One evening, about three days afterwards, I 



THOS. H. BARTON. 55 



was again called to see the case, the messenger stating that 
his friends thought that the man would would die. I 
hastened to his bedside, and found him sweating profusely- 
The pulse rate was about forty per minute, and he was very 
weak. I prescribed stimulants, and in a few days, the patient 
was on his feet again. 

I related these facts to my landlord, who immediately re- 
plied : "D — n him, why did't you let him die, for he is of no 
account." This was poor satisfaction for me, for I hoped to 
receive praise for my aliility. I also stated to a prominent 
Methodist, that in my opinion, I had been instrumental in 
saving this man's life ; but the good brother only replied : 
"Probably it was the turn of the disease, when you first saw 
him." Here, I again failed to make an impression, and 
from that time to the present, I have indulged in very little 
boasting, as to what I had done, or was able to do. I have 
reported this case, in order to remind young physicians that 
they will receive very little praise for their services, if the 
patient is poor and disreputable. 

Dr. McGath remained at Chester for about two months, 
and then moved away, leaving the practice to me. I was ac- 
quainted with his wife, prior to their marriage, and she was 
an estimable young lady. 

About this time, I was called to treat a case of typhoid 
fever; but it proved fatal in spite of all my exertions. The 
patient was a little girl of about ten summers, and she was 
the daughter of William Johnson, a merchant and a promi- 
nent citizen of Chester. The child died in the fourth week 
of the disease. The people of Chester, or the major portion of 
them, now thought they had found me guilty of incompe- 
tency. They had proof positive of my deficiency in medicine, 
in the death of this child. So at least, it seemed from their 
actions and conversation. I am however, of the opinion, that 
Mr. Johnson and his family thought otherwise. 

During the autumn of this year, I had considerable prac- 
tice, but found it almost impossible to collect the fees for my 
medical services. It should be remembered, that this was the 
beginning of the great financial panic of 1857. There had 
been a failure of the crops, and business throughout the coun- 
try was extremely dull. 



56 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



******* 

Once more, I have reached a memorable period of my life. 
Once more, I have come to the conclusion that "it is not good 
for man to be alone." I have again fallen a victim to the ten- 
der passion of love, and am to appear, once more, before the 
hymenial altar. More than a year had passed away since the 
death of Martha, and I had, as 3^et, no thoughts of marriage. 
But I am now to experience, for the second time, the shafts of 
Cupid. 

One day, soon after locating at Chester, a young lady called 
at my office, to purchase some opium for her mother. Having 
no opium, Isold her a vial of laudanum, but she returned in a 
few hours, and politely informed me that her mother would 
not have it. I gave her back the money, and she returned 
home. Her name was Emily L. Parsons. 

Miss Parsons was a young lady of twent}' summers; was 
pleasant in her manners and deportment, and agreeable in 
conversation. She was {ilK)ut the medium size, of a fair and 
clear complexion, flaxen hair, and deep blue eyes. She could 
not be called Heshy, but she had a sufficient amount of adipose 
tissue to give her a noble and dignified appearance. 

This was my first acquaintance with Emily. I afterwards 
met her at Mr. Johnson's, during the sickness of his child, 
and she assisted in nursing the little one. I was formally in- 
troduced to her by Mrs. Johnson, and we soon became well 
acquainted, and would frequently have private conversations 
together. She informed me that I would be welcomed at her 
father's house, where I soon became a frequent visitor, and 
learned to love her dearly. My love for her was not the im- 
pulse of a moment, but it grew with our acquaintance, and 
became deep and lasting. 

Daniel Parsons, the father of Emily, was about fifty years 
old, and apparently in the prime of life. He was born and 
raised in the state of New York, and was one of the best 
mechanics of that State, and he had no equal in Meigs county. 
He was a cabinent maker, and could do almost any kind of 
mechanical work. He was also an inventor, and had invented 
and patented a wheel for mill work ; he also invented a spin- 
ning machine which did good service. Mr. Parsons had a 



THOS. H. BARTON. 57 



limited education, but was a noted practitioner before justice's 
courts, and he was firm and even obstinate in his belief. 

Elizabeth Parsons was about the same age as her husband. 
Her maiden name was Harper, and she was born in the state 
of Maine. 

Among the fair sex, there were other candidates for matri- 
mony at the village of Chester. Soon after the death of his 
child, I commenced boarding with Mr. Johnson. On one 
occasion, an old lady and her daughter came to visit the 
Johnsons. The old lady was about sixty-five, and the daughter 
who was a widow, and the mother of two children, was about 
thirty-five years of age. Mrs. Johnson, Emily, and I, were 
present. Presently the old lady said to me: "Doctor, if you 
want a girl, I have one for you." I replied : "Madam, where is 
3'our daughter?" "She is right here doctor," at the same time 
pointing to the widow. Had a clap of thunder broken from a 
cloudless sky, I could not have been more surprised. For a 
moment, I was stunned, not knowing what to answer. To 
render the episode still more interesting, Mrs. Johnson and 
Emily were biting their lips to keep from laughing. However. 
I was not a sucker, and could not be caught. 

Emily soon became very dear to me, and I enjo3^ed myself 
when in her society. As the months wore away my love for 
her became stronger, and in due time, we were engaged to be 
married. Our plighted troth is to be made good on the second 
of December ; we are to be united at the bride's residence, and 
the Rev. B. F. McElfresh, of the M. E. Church, has been 
selected as the officiating minister. 

Important business now takes me to the city of Pomeroy. 
There is an indispensable document, connected with my aflairs, 
which I must procure ; and while at the capitol of Meigs 
county, I meet an old friend and acquaintance, and inform 
him concerning my business. "Tom," said he, "is it a wider 
woman, or gal, that you are going to marry this time?" I 
replied : "It is a girl." And my old friend answered : "It is a girl 
is it, bully for you, Tom !" 

And now, I am about to enter, for the second time, into the 
state of connubial bliss. We have a quiet wedding, a few of 
her nearest relatives, and one gentleman, whom I have taken 



58 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



with me, being present. Again I hear the solemn words pro- 
nounced, and know that it is my dear wife beside me whom I 
love so well. 

Hark ! What is this which now disturbs our peace ! We 
have partaken of the wedding feast, and are enjoying ourselves 
in quiet conversation. The shade of night had spread its dark 
mantle over the earth, when the sharp report of a gun rang out 
on the clear air. This was followed by the beating of drums, 
the tooting of tin horns, the ringing of bells, the beating of tin 
pans, and, high above the din, was heard the yell of human 
voices. Had pandemonium broken loose, the tumult could 
not have been worse. At intervals, numerous voices would 
call upon me to treat them ; they kept up the clamor for several 
hours, but were compelled to go away disappointed. Had I 
been properly serenaded with appropriate music, I would have 
responded, and they would have been received by the family 
with a kindly greeting. 

* * -5^ * * * * 

We began our wedded life in humble circumstances, being 
poor with respect to this world's goods. But we were rich in 
each other's love, and my dear wife stood by meinour humble 
condition. We spent the honeymoon at her own home, and 
our bridal tour was a visit to my father at Harrisonville. We 
commenced house keeping about Christmas, and our chief 
wedding gift was an outfit of furniture made by her father's 
hands. 

During the spring of 1857. my practice improved to some 
extent; but I now found that the mnjor portion of the citizens 
of Chester had put their veto upon me. For the}' said : "Dr. 
Barton, we have kept you down so far, and we intend to keep 
you down You shall never rise lo eminence in your profes- 
sion here. We do not care how much you study, or how at- 
tentive you may be to your calling. We care nothing for your 
skill and ability, for we do not intend to give you a chance." 

This conduct was partly on account of my father-in-law be- 
ing unpopular with the denizens of Chester. Whewever there 
was a disturbance in the church, or a suit at law, wherein he 
was interested or took part, Mr. Parsons usually came out best. 
Hence, his unpopularity. But I can not understand why the 
good people of Chester should retaliate on me. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 59 



In the latter part of the preceding winter, one James Dias, 
a physician, located at Chester. Dr. Dias was proud, haughty, 
and overbearing. Moveover, he was arogant in his manners, 
gave me the cold shoulder, did not consult with me, and sel- 
dom spoke to me. I have no doubt that he was advised to act 
in this manner by some of the Chesterites. The result was, 
that we had nothing to do with each other. I acknowledge 
this to have been wrong, but when the breach was once made, 
I was as deeply in the mud as he was in the mire. 

Dr. Dias had the majority with him, and obtained the most 
practice. I bad a large number of friends and relatives, who 
lived from three to five miles from the village, and they em- 
ployed me, did all they could for me, and my practice was 
mainly in that direction. 

I will report another case that came under my treatment, 
while ai Chester. The patient was a child about three years 
old, and it was afflicted with catarrhal fever; but was by no 
means, in a dangerous condition. At the same time I was 
treating a patient, who lived in the country. I had seen the 
child on three several occasions, and on the morning of the 
fourth visit, a little girl came to me, and said that I need not 
come, for the child was much better. I then went to the 
country ; but in my absence I was again sent for to see the 
little sufferer, the messenger telling my wife that the child was 
worse. Dr. Dias was then employed to treat the case. Herein 
my competitor violated the code of medical ethics. His duty 
was to visit and prescribe for the patient and then retire. I 
have never had the least doubt that these messengers were 
sent to me with lies in their mouths, and for no other purpose 
than to injure my reputation and professional standing. 

I have always been free to acknowledge my failings and 
shortcomings ; but however numerous my faults may have 
been, I have always been truthful, and could never stoop to 
fraud or deception to accomplish my ends. In the name of 
our common practice, I could not retaliate on Dr. Dias ; but 
I soon obtained ample satisfaction, and it came about in 
another way. 

During the summer or autumn there was a rumor that a 
comet was about to make its appearance in the starry heavens. 



60 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Every one was anxious to catch a glimpse of the stranger, on 
its return to the solar system ; and every one seemed equally 
anxious to be the first observer. 

One morning, about the third hour. Dr. Dias was called u)> 
from his quiet slumbers to visit a patient, and, in his peram- 
bulations cast his eyes upwards and toward the east, and 
thought he saw the comet. Being the first to observe the 
strange visitor, caused him to feel very proud of the accom- 
plishment. Next day, it was noised about the village: ''Dr. 
Dias saw the comet last night." The word was in everybody's 
mouth that Dr. Dias had seen the comet. Even little children 
joined in the chorus, and their piping voices could be heard 
on the streets : "Dr. Dias saw the comet." 

I had studied astronomy, and was familiar with the move- 
ments of the ])lanets, and had some knowledge in regard to 
the nature of ccMnets. These bodies usually move in very 
eccentric orliits, approaching very near to the sun in their 
perihelion, and receding to a very great distance from it at 
their aphelion. A comet commonly consists of three parts : 
the nucleus, the envelope, or coma, and the tail, but one or 
more of tliese parts are frequently wanting. 

"So from the dread immensity of space 
Returning, wltii accelerated course, 
The rushing comet to the sun descends." 

I was very eager to see the stranger, and on the following 
night, rose from my slumbers, and went to the door facing the 
east. Here I had a good view of Dr. Dias' supposed comet. I 
will now explain the phenomenon. Venus and Jupiter were 
morning stars and in conjunction : that is they were appar- 
ently very near to each other, and in line with the earth. Ve- 
nus api)eared joined to Jupiter, but it did not eclipse the latter 
planet. It was a beautiful sight. This ])lanptary aspect is 
well worthy ofan ohsprvati<m, and it occurs only after a long 
cycle of years. On the following day, and for several days 
afterwards, Ttook great pleasure in explaining Dr. Dias'comet. 
I am free to admit that! took great delight at his discomfiture, 
and with this e})iso(l(' in our affairs, F close my connection 
with him. 

* * ***** 

I am, once more, called upon to mourn the loss of a near 



THOS. H. BARTON. 61 



and dear relative. About the tenth of September, James 
Berkley came to my house, and informed me that my father 
was vomiting blood. I knew that this meant hemorrhage of 
the stomach, and that, at my fathers age, it would no doubt 
prove fatal. Fifteen miles of travel took me to Harrisonville, 
but, ere my arrival, I learned the sad intelligence of his death. 
He was taken sick at the fourth hour, and quietly passed away 
at the eleventh being in the sixty eighth year of his age. 
His last request was that he might see bis sons before he died. 
On being asked if he felt willing to go, he replied : " I am in 
the hands of a kind and loving Savior." His sacred dust re- 
poses by the side of his wife in the old graveyard, near Harri- 
sonville. 

'•.•Asleep in Jesus! Oh, for me 
May such a blissful refuge be ! 
Securely shall my ashes lie. 
And wait the summons from on high." 

I had experienced sorrow before, and now felt the pangs 
of grief in the loss of a dear parent ; but there was also hap- 
piness in store for me. On the first of October, a little 
stranger came to visit us. As it eame with the intention of 
making our home its permanent abode, we named the young 
visitor Martha Maria. There had been another Martha, whose 

name I dearly cherished. 

******* 

Throughout the summer and autumn of this year, I reso- 
lutely continued my practice, and resolved, regardless of all 
opposition, to establish myself permanently at Chester. The 
hard blows that I had sustained, only stimulated me to greater 
exertions, and I now felt more confident than ever before, of 
being able to maintain my profession here. But I am once 
again to experience the mutations of fortune, and the instabil- 
ity of human action. 

About the first of December, I learned that one of my 
patrons, who was indebted to me, had moved to Syracuse. 
One morning, I concluded to visit that place, and, although 
the sky was overcast with clouds, I mounted my horse, and 
began my journey. Soon the rain began to descend; but it 
was not in my nature to turn back, either for rain, snow, the 
heat of summer, or the cold of winter. I kept on my journey 



62 AUTOfelOGiRAPHV OF 

and soon arrived at my destination. Having completed my 
business, I inquired of some of the citizens of Syracuse, 
whether any physician was located there. Being answered in 
the negative, I then made inquiries in regard to the situation 
and they informed me that they thought Syracuse would 
be a good place for a physician. My resolution was instantly 
taken. I will locate at Syracuse ; I will make this place my 
future home, and the battleground of my chosen profession. 
And thus it came about that the change was made, I have en- 
titled my book — what I afterwards became — "The Self-made 
Physician, of Syracuse, Ohio." 

On returning home, I informed my wife in regard to my 
plans, and she readily consented to the proposed change. In 
a few days I was again at Syracuse, and boarded for about 
two weeks with Peter Lallance. Meanwhile, I made the neces- 
sary preparations, and the last days of December found me 
permanently located at Syracuse. 

Syracuse is situated on the Ohio ri\^r, about four miles 
above Pomeroy. The village contained, in 1858, about four 
hundred inhabitants. Like all other mining and manufactur- 
ing towns, it contained a mixed population, composed of 
Welsh, English, Irish, Germans, Scotch, and native born 
Americans. In regard to occupations, there were farmers, 
merchants, mechanics, coal miners, day laborers, and two or 
three saloon-keepers. These were mainly dependent for their 
prosperity upon the mining of coal. This industry is carried 
on by the Syracuse Coal & Salt Company, a body corporate, 
organized under the laws of Connecticut, and doing business 
in Ohio. The coal is of an excellent quality, the vein being 
about five feet in thickness, and eighty feet below the surface. 
About eighteen months prior to my arrival, the company sunk 
a shaft and commenced operations. 

Syracuse had at this time, two general stores, one black- 
smith shop, one boot and shoe shop, one boarding house, and 
one church — the Methodist Episcopal. No school-house had 
as yet, been erected, but there were two or three saloons where 
cheap whiskey was sold. 

It has been said that "a rolling stone gathers no moss :" it is 
equally true that a "setting hen never grows fat." Up to this 



THOS. H. BARTON. 63 



time, my practice had not been lucrative, my income being 
hardly sufficient to meet my expenses. I had found it ex- 
tremely difficult, and. in many instances impossible, to make 
collections. I had left a large amount of uncollected debts 
behind me at Pageville, three or four hundred dollars at Leon, 
and about two hundred at Chester. I had lost my property 
at Leon, in consequence of being unable to collect the fees for 
my medical services. I had purchased this property partly 
on credit, and could not meet my financial engagements. 

I have already stated, in a previous chapter, that I received 
a gift of two hundred dollars from my father ; but this sum 
was mainly spent in obtaining a medical education. At the 
beginning of my practice, my worldly goods consisted of a 
horse, saddle and bridle, and medical books worth about 
fifteen dollars. 

And now, on this first day of January, 1858, I find myself 
in no better condition than at the commencement of my 
professional career. I had been worsted, at three localities, 
and, up to this time, my profession had been a failure. At 
this point, I desire the reader to pause for a moment, and 
reflect as to what he would have done under like circumstances. 
Let the reader answer, in his own mind, whether he would 
have given up the practice of medicine in disgust, or whether 
he would have done as I then did. My finances were now at 
a very low ebb, and my life, thus far, had been a failure. But 
I felt more resolute and determined than ever before, and 
resolved once more, to establish myself in my chosen pro- 
fession. 

During my stay with Peter Lallance, who was a gentleman 
and very obliging, I had a number of professional calls, and 
now felt satisfied that I had, at last, obtained a good location 
for the practice of medicine. However, there were other con- 
siderations, which soon convinced me that I had made a virtu- 
ous change. I had left the Lilliputians behind me at Chester, 
and found myself among the Brobdingnagians of Syracuse. 

I moved my family into a new building, and paid five dol- 
lars a month for rent. This property is now owned and occu- 
pied by David Vaughn. At this time, the miners were on a 
strike for their wages, and the result was that nearly all of 



64 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

the day laborers were out of employment. I hardly knew what 
the word strike meant, but afterwards learned a great deal in 
regard to the meaning of that term. 

One evening soon after locating at Syracuse, Timothy Stiles 
came to my office, and informed me that my services were re- 
quired at the grocery. There had been a bloody affray at the 
saloon, and Bully Bill Richards and Bill Davis, the Cart, were 
the participants. At first, I did not understand why Mr. Davis 
had this title attached to his name. I afterwards learned, that 
in .Wales, there are many persons bearing the same family 
name, and that, in order to make a distinction, certain titles 
are given them, the person being designated, either by the 
place of his birth, or the occupation he follows. Mr. Richards 
had received a longitudinal incission about four inches in 
length, on the front part of one of his arms, at the elbow joint. 
This was made with a knife, and it came near severing the 
large artery of his arm. He recovered in due time. Mr. Davis, 
who was the saloon keeper, had also sustained severe injuries. 
He had lost a large chunk ol his nasal proboscis, and also a 
part of the digital extremity of one of his hands (the thumb). 
These injuries were done by the other man's teeth. He had 
chewed the thumb so that it could not be replaced, and it was 
amputated at the first joint. I put a paper nose on him, but 
was not so successful as the Arkansaw Doctor in a similar 
case, and his countenance was afterwards very much disfigured. 
The cause of all this trouble was a dog fight, and an overdose 
of whisky. 

About this time, William Long, a coal miner, asked me this 
abrupt question. "Are you a great surgeon." I answered in 
the negative, telling him, at the same time, that I could treat 
common or ordinary surgical cases. This answer injured me 
in the practice of surgery ; for it was soon noised about that I 
knew nothing in regard to surgery. It was evident, however, 
that Mr. Long and I did not understand each other. I had a 
fair knowledge of the science of surgery, but was not a great 
surgeon like Sir Astley Cooper, of England, or Professor Gib- 
son, of tliis country. 

I had entertained hopes that no other physician would locate 
at this place, but I was doomed to be disappointed. About 



TSOS. H. BARTON. 55 



the first of January, Dr. D. L. Star, of Point Pleasant, made his 
appearance, and soon afterwards moved his family to Syracuse 
I was slightly acquainted with him at Leon, and he was a 
gentleman, and a well read physician, but was not familiar 
m th the latest discoveries in medicine. He was a local preach- 
er, and a member of the M. E. Church, and on Sabbath morn- 
ings, looked more like a clergyman than a physician. I soon 
learned that he would not be very much in my way, as he did 
not intend to make the practice of medicine a specialty His 
main object was to be a miller, and he moved an old gristmill 
from the Kanawha River to Syracuse, and put it in operation 
Our opponents were Dr. Guthrie, of Pomeroy, and Dr J R 
Philson, of Racine, both of whom are now deceased They 
were gentlemen and first class physicians, and I have frequent- 
ly consulted with Dr. Philson. 

During the remainder of this winter and the succeeding 
spring, I did a very fair business. On the first of March the 
miners were paid off", and resumed their occupation This 
strike lasted from the preceding December. No miner was 
permitted to work ; no coal could be obtained at the mines 
and slack and wood were used for fuel. ' 

In March, I made a contract with the miners in regard to 
medical treatment. They proposed to give me twenty-five 
cents a month for each head of a family, and this sum was to 
be paid whether they were sick or well. I was to treat them 
when called upon, but was not to be deprived of other practice 
and was to receive my pay at the ofl^ce of the coal company' 
At first I objected, on the ground that the amount was in- 
sufficient; but they informed me that it was more than double 
the sum paid in the old country, and that in Wales the price 
was only half a shilling a month. I finally accepted the offer 
and was also to furnish the medicines free of charge I will 
here inform the reader, that medicines were not so costly then 
as at a later date, and were given in a more crude state, with- 
out syrups or elixirs. This contract did not prove advantage- 
ous to me, although I was kept very busy, treating seventy or 
eighty families, besides attending to other duties. But my 
patrons soon became dissatisfied. Some wanted medicines of 
their own choice, patent medicines, etc.; while others wanted 



66 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



turpentine to use in paint. I generally refused them, and 
would lose some of ray twenty-five cent customers. One of 
my patrons, who was not a party to the contract, actually re- 
fused to pay a small amount, and never did pay it, telling me 
that I practiced for the miners for twenty-five cents a month. 
This contract expired on the first of October. 

During the first year at Syracuse, I obtained a large amount 
of practice, but found it extremely difficult to make collections. 
Aside from the contract with the miners, my receipts would 
probably reach fifty per cent, of the amounts charged. Neither 
did I have the best success in retaining my patrons, for if I 
lost a case of sickness by death, or had counsel called, there 
were those who would accuse me of incompetency, and when- 
ever I lost a patient, I would lose a dozen friends. 

In the latter part of this year (I think this was the time), 
Dr. Adams, of Letart, came to Syracuse ; but he did not move 
his family to this place. He was about sixty years old, intel- 
ligent, and a regular physician in good professional standing. 

But he had one fault: being a too frequent visitor at the 
saloons. Here he would creat his friends, and they would 
treat him, and he soon became very popular waih the drinking 
class. Neither was he unpopular among the old settlers, for 
they knew him to be an experienced physician. The result 
was that he obtained considerable practice, and I was left in the 
background by a number of my patrons. In six or seven 
months after locating here. Dr. Adams concluded to collect 
his medical fees ; but when he presented his bills to his drink- 
ing friends, some of them said : " Doctor, we have employed 
you, but we have also recommended you to our neighbors, and 
done all we could for you, and here you are wanting us to pay 
you for your seruices." This meant that they had already 
paid him with their recommendations. Dr. Adams soon after- 
wards left Syracuse. 

Throughout the year 1859 my practice was fair, but not 
lucrative. In the summer of this year I purchased a town lot 
from Quartes Bridgeman, and on it erected a cottage building 
twenty-two feet long and eighteen feet wide, and we moved 
into our new home in the month of August. I had bought 
a lot from INIr. Bridgeman in the preceding year, and commenced 



TIIOS. H. BARTON. 67 



erecting a house, but financial embarrassments prevented me 
from completing this building, and I afterwards sold the 
property. 

My wife was energetic, and did all she could to aid me finan- 
cially. With my assistance, she taught a select school, and 
we had good success, and gave general satisfaction. One 
day a very amusing incident occurred. My little daughter, 
then about two years old, had found my cigar box, and 
made her appearance in the school room with a cigar in 
her mouth and two or three in each hand. This school 
closes my experience as a pedagogue. 

The year ISfJO opened with a fair amount of practice, and it 
continued throughout the year. My services were now fre- 
quently required at Minersville, and I also obtained consider- 
able practice at Hartford City and New Haven, on the opposite 
side of the river. But there was a large floating population at 
Syracuse and Minersville, and it was not uncommon for some 
of my patrons to move away without settling their accounts. 
Thus, in numerous instances, I lost the fees form}' professional 
services. 

And on the eighth of March, a son was born unto us. We 
named him George Reynalde, in honor of Sir Thomas 
Reynalde, of England. Sir Thomas lived contemporary with 
Queen Elizabeth, and he was a celebrated physician and author 
of that age. 

Concerning the following occurrence, I have no apology to 
make in regard to my conduct, and if I have no other sin to 
answer for at the last day, I feel assured that when I come to 
kjiock at the gates of St. Peter, I will not be denied admission : 

One day in August I had business at the company store, 
and when I had gone about half way, I observed a number of 
men engaged in a fight. As I approached nearer to them, it 
became evident that half a dozen or more were engaged against 
one. I desire the reader to bear in mind that I had no inten- 
tion of taking any part in the affray, and I was also a friend 
to all parties. When very near to them I called out: "Men, 
take it fair, and let two fight at a time." Although intoxicated, 
they recognized me at once, and I heard several voices saying, 
" If it is fair play you want, we will give you fair play." With 



68 AUTOBIOGRAPHY C>F 

this they left their enemy and gathered around me like a 
swarm of bumble bees (Bombus) when a boy has disturbed 
t!ieir nest, and with no more intelligence than half a dozen 
hounds fighting a cur. I should have sought safety in flight, 
but notwithstanding their savage appearance, I thought to 
appease them with kind words. But they gave me no chance, 
and when within striking distance, began to make passes at me 
with their fists, while at the same time I kept my eyes on 
them, and placed myself in an attitude of defence. 

And now. the battle began in earnest. One man who had a 
good view of the field informed me afterwards that in the first 
encounter I sent several of them to grass. I am uncertain, how- 
ever, in regard to this, for I did not have time to look to the 
ground. At this instant ©ne of them had the audacity to grapple 
with me. Instead of jerking away from him, as I should have 
done, I took the " grapevine lock," and laid him on the ground. 
At this moment T heard the chime of his comrade's voices : 
" Give it to him ! Give it to him ! Gi\'e it to him ! " 

At this period of the contest I received a few slight injuries 
on my forehead, and also on my back, which was very large, 
and a conspicuous object for a target. I afterwards learned 
that these blows were given with rocks. I at once found that 
this mode of fighting would not do, notwithstanding I had one 
of them down, and in about the space of a flash of lightning I 
was on my feet again, facing my other antagonists. During 
this lull in the conflict, we stood facing each other like Gen. 
McClellan and Gen. Lee after the battle of Malvern Hill, 
when both armies had received such hard pounding that 
neither side felt willing to renew the struggle. 

After waiting for a minute or two, and no one making an 
attack, I concluded to leave the field. But before doing so, I 
picked up two small bowlders of a size suitable to throw to 
good advantage at short range ; and as I deliberately moved 
away, kept one eye turned to the rear, and my arms by my 
side in about the attitude of a base ball pitcher when intend- 
ing to deceive the man at the bat. I had not gone more than 
two rods, when one of them came running after me with a rock 
in his hand, and when about fifteen feet distant, hurled the 
missile at mo, but missed his mark. He then sought safety in 



THOS. H. BARTON. 69 



flight ; but as he turned to go, one of the bowlders left my 
hand, struck him between the shoulders, and felled him to the 
earth. No doubt the rock struck him on the spinal column, 
for he had spinal irritation for many months. 

At one point in the conflict, some of them asked me if I had 
enough ; I replied that I did not come here to fight. I left them 
when ready to go, but not before, I had sustained no serious 
injuries, neither was I exhausted. My power! ul strength, great 
activity, firm bearing, and presence of mind saved me. For 
years afterwards, I bore the name of being a great pugilist. 

And what became of their enemy? He ran away in order to 
procure a weapon, and did not again make his appearence on 
the field. His name was Jacob Henry, and he was a notorious 
character in Syracuse at that time. 

About this time I began to exi)erience, as I often had before, 
considerable opposition in the practice of medicine. In the 
latter part of this year, if I am correct in regard to the date, 
Joseph Bean, a physician of the Physio Medical School, locat- 
ed at Syracuse. Dr. Bean had every appearance of a gentle- 
man, was unexceptionable in his manners and deportment, a 
member of the M. E. church, and a regular attendant at church 
and Sabbath school. At first sight, compared with myself, he 
would be regarded as my superior. Had Prof. H. C. Wood, or 
Dr. J. F. Meigs, of Philadelphia; or Prof. Whittaker, of Cin- 
cinnati, been here at the same time, Dr. Bean would have been 
considered, by a large number of the people, as the equal of 
those celebrated physicians. I teel confident, however, that if 
anyone had put this simple question to him : Is the clavicle 
a bone or a muscle, and if a bone, where does it belong~he could 
not have answered. 

Soon afterwards, Samuel Bean, a brother of Joseph, moved 
his family here, and commenced practicing medicine. Samuel, 
if I am correctly informed, had studied medicine for about two 
months, and came out a full-fledged physician. He was at 
once recognized as a physician in good standing and obtained 
some practice. These gentleman belonged to the Physio Medi- 
cal School, and practiced that system of medicine. They had 
attended some kind of an institution, or college, and claimed 
to have obtained diplomas. 



70 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

At the close of this year, and during the first six months of 
1861, my professional business was not promising. I have al- 
ready alluded to the great financial panic of 1857, and this 
continued for several years with more or less severity. Not- 
withstanding all opposition, I had obtained a fair amount of 
practice; but still found it extremely difficult to make collec- 
lections. This was largely due to the stringency of the times, 
and the general depression of business throughout the coun- 
try. 

And now, ten years of ray professional life have rolled away. 
During all that time, I had improved every opportunity, both 
by study and observation, to make myself successful in my 
chosen calling. Still, I had not been so successful as I could 
have desired ; and, after ten years of hard study and much ex- 
perience, find myself, in the estimation of many persons, the 
same that I was when I began my professional career. I was 
cast down, but not discouraged ; for I felt that behind the 
cloud was a silver lining. 

And now I am about to witness another change in the drama 
of life. I must arrange, once more, to shift the scene. The 
sound of war has reverberated throughout the land, the notes 
of preparation are being heard, and I must prepare to take 
part in the conflict. 

"Aiifl nearer, clearer, deadlier than before ! 

Arm ! Arm ! it is— it is the cannon's opening roar !" 



CHAPTER V. 



THE CAMPAIGN IN WEST VIRGINIA. 

The presidential election of 1860 resulted in the choice of 
Abraham Lincoln. The political issues turned mainly upon 
the question of slavery in the territories. The democratic 
party, already weakened by the Kansas question, now finally 
divided into two sections. The northern wing nominated Ste- 
phen A. Douglass, of Illinois, as its candidate. It held that 
congress had no power either to sanction or forbid slavery in 
the territories, and that the question could be decided only by 



THOS. H, BARTON. 71 



the people thereof, who alone were interested in it. The south- 
ern wing chose John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, as its 
candidate, and declared it to be the express duty of congress 
to sanction and protect slavery in all the territories of the re- 
public, and maintained that the constitution, of its own force, 
carried slavery into them. The Republican party nominated 
Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, as its standard bearer. This 
party denied all intention to interfere with the domestic insti- 
tutions of any of the states of the Union, but declared its deter- 
mination to prevent the introduction of slavery into the terri- 
tories by congressional legislation, and denounced as false the 
doctrine that the constitution established slavery in any part 
of the Union. It asserted the right of every community to 
manage its local affairs in its own way, and denounced the in- 
vasion of Virginia by John Brown as wicked and unjustifiable. 
A fourth party known as the Constitutional Union party, 
nominated John Bell, of Tennessee, and adopted the following 
vague and indefinite platform : "The Union, the constitution, 
and the enforcement of the laws." The contest was bitter be- 
yond all precedent. Mr. Lincoln was elected by a plurality of 
the popular vote, and a majority of fifty-seven votes over all 
competition in the electoral college. Thus the great Democra- 
tic party, which had had almost uninterrupted control of the 
government from the beginning of the century, was split into 
fragments and driven from the field. 

The southern states had threatened to withdraw from the 
Union in ihe event of the election of a president hostile to 
slavery, and now proceeded to put their threats into execution. 
As soon as the election of Mr. Lincoln was definitely ascer- 
tained, the legislature of South Carolina summoned a conven- 
tion of the people of that state, \^hich met on the 17th of 
December, 1860. This convention adopted an ordinance of 
secession, and on the twentieth, the state withdrew from the 
Union. The secession of South Carolina was soon followed 
by that of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisana 
and Texas. The forts, arsenals and other property of the 
United States in these states were seized by the rebel authori- 
ties, and held by the rebel troops, except Fort Sumter, in 
Charleston harbor, and Fort Pickins, on Santa Rosa Island, 



72 AUTOBIOGRAPHY. OF 



near Pensacola. Florida. Fort Moultrie had been occupied bj'- 
a garrison of eight}' men, under Major Robert Anderson, who, 
on the night of December twenty-fifth, withdrew from Moul- 
trie, and threw his command into Fort Sumy)ter. 

The federal governmenc was at this time almost helpless. 
The regular army then about 16,000 strong was posted on the 
Indian frontier, and the available vessels of the navy were 
nearly all in foreign waters. Many of the most pronjinent 
officials, including cabinet ministers, were in open sympathy 
with the rebellious states, and President Buchanan seemed 
only anxious to delay any definite action in the matter until 
the inauguration of his successor. In his last annual mes- 
sage, the president denied the riglit of the general government 
to coerce a state. In summing up his views <^n this point, Mr. 
Buchanan said : " The fact is, that our Union rests upon 
public opinion, and can never be cemented by the blood of its 
citizens shed in civil war. If it cannot live in the affections of 
the people, it must one day perish. Congress possesses many 
means of preserving it by conciliation ; but the sword was not 
placed in their hand to preserve it by force." The president 
was in favor of conceding to the south everything but separ- 
ate independence, and thus by his timidity, lost the advantages 
which the government would have obtained by a firm and 
resolute course. 

Various plans were proposed in congress and by the states 
for a settlement of the national troubles, but none were 
attended with success. Early in January, 1861, the steamer 
" Star of the West" was dispatched to Charleston b}' the gov- 
ernment with re-enforcements and supplies for Fort Sumter. 
She attempted to enter the harbor on the ninth, and was fired 
upon and turned back by the South Carolina batteries. 

On the 4tb of February, 1861, a convention of delegates from 
the six seceded states met at Montgomery, Alabama, and or- 
ganized the new republic of the '"Confederate States of 
America," and on the eighth, Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, 
was elected president of the provisional government. 

The first act of the Republican administration, which came 
into power on the fourth of March, was to send an expedition 
to Charleston harbor for the relief of Fort Sumter. Governor 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



Pickens, of South Carolina, was at once advised of the depart- 
ure of this expedition, and the Confederate government 
thereupon ordered General Beauregard, commanding its 
forces at Charleston, to reduce Fort Sumter. The bombard- 
ment was begun on the morning of the 12th of April, and 
was continued until the afternoon of the 13th, when the fort 
Surrendered. 

The opening gun of this assault on the government woke 
the nation from its slumber. Upon the fall of Fort Sumter, 
President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 troops 
to aid in suppressing the rebellion against the laws of the 
United States. The call was obeyed with alacrity. Through- 
out the north and west the people sprang to arms, the ranks 
were soon filled, and this great political issue — the preserva- 
tion of the Union was to be decided by the sword. 

"And there was mounting in hot haste; the steed. 

The mustering squadron, and the clattering car, 
Went pouring forward with impetuous speed. 
And swiftly forming in the raniis of war." 
* * * * * * * ' 

I did not take an active part in the presidential campaign 
but was opposed to the extension of slavery in the territories, 
and cast my ballot for the Republican candidate. I did this 
regardless of consequences, little knowing what the result 
would be if Mr. Lincoln should be elected. I had no idea 
that this would bring war on our once happy and pros- 
perous country, and that millions of men would be arrayed 
against each other in deadl}'^ conflict. But when the little 
rebellious state of South Carolina raised her back, like a cat 
when ready to leap upon its prey, and leaped out of the 
Union, the news was regarded by every one as ominous ; and 
when state after state seceded, without even a threat from the 
chief executive, how we then wished for a president like Andrew 
Jackson. 

President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to put down 
the rebellion was received with applause. Recruiting began at 
once, and a company was soon raised from Pomero}', Racine 
and Syracuse. The people were animated with patriotism ; 
party spirit became a thing of the past, and the battle cry 
with nearly every one was — " Down with the traitors — up with 
the flag ! " 



74 AUTOBIOGRAPHY (>F 

About the first of June, an independent company of militia 
was organized at Syracuse. This was an organization of our 
own getting up, and we elected officers, and would frequently 
meet for drill. When on parade, my little daughter, then in 
her fifth year, would sometimes march by my side with a 
regular step, and as much of a soldier bearing as any one in 
the company. 

One warm day in June, after we had gone through our 
military evolutions, and had seated ourselves to rest under 
the spreading branches of a large beech tree, we observed Mr. 
Isaac Carleton coming towards us. Mr. Carleton was a native 
of Ireland, and had emigrated to this country about the year 
1820, and soon afterwards settled in this vicinity, and was at 
this time, a wealthy land-owner of Syracuse. He was a very 
portly old gentleman, and weighed nearly four hundred 
pounds. Mr. Carleton approached us very slowly, puffing 
and blowing as he came, and when he came to us and had 
rested for a few minutes, he opened out oi^ us in genuine 
Irish style. "'Boys, this is all nonsense. If a dozen old 
women were to come along with broomsticks in their hands, 
they could make the whole kit of you run." 

Mr. Carleton meant no insult by these remarks, for he was 
thorougbly loyal, and throughout the war his generosity to the 
wives of indigent soldiers was munificent. However one of 
our number was highly offended at what was meant for a prac- 
tical joke. The offended comrade sprang to his feet, rolled up 
his shirt sleeves, swore be would have revenge on Mr. Carle- 
ton, ;md moved towards him with clinched fists. Three of four 
men then seized him, and bad a hard struggle to keep him 
away from the (»ld gentlemnn. 

.-Xbout tb^^ first of July, Ju<lg(' P. Vt. St;i,nsl)erry and William 
Brown, of Pomeroy, a,nd l^]|)hraini Carson, of Racine, began 
recruiting for tbe fourtii r('!:;itnent of West Virginia infantry. 
They were assisted by Britton Cook, of Syracuse, and myself. 
A company wns soon made up. I joined this organization and 
became a member (»f Company E. 

In taking this step, I was actuated by motives of patriotism. 
I shouldered my musket in defence of the ITnion ; but I had 
no idea of abandoning my profession, and intended, if spared, 



THOS. H. BARTON. 75 



to resume the practice of medicine at the expiration of my 
term of service. My wife was patriotic, and readily gave her 
consent to my enlistment. But it was hard to part with the 
loved ones, not knowing whether or not I would ever return ; 
and when I was about to bid farewell to those who were near 
and dear to me, my little daughter said. "Doc. you must not 
go to war, for you will get shot." 

Company E. was mustered into the United States service, 
July 22d, 1861, and went into camp at Mason City, West Vir- 
ginia. I was advised by some of the comrades to be a candidate 
for the office of Second Lieutenant, but held back till near the 
hour of election. I then wrote a numl^er of ballots, and went 
to the place of election, when the loud hurrah of the company 
was heard cheering the newly elected officers. William Brown 
was chosen Captain; P. B. Stansberry, First Lieutenant; and 
Ephraim Carson, Second Lieutenant. These gentlemen are 
all well known in Meigs county, and were men of integrity and 
ability, and made able and efficient officers. 

Company E. was recruited mainly at Pomeroy, Racine and 
Syracuse, with a few recruits from Mason county. West Vir- 
ginia. Companies H., and K. were recruited in West Virginia, 
the former from the counties along the Kanawha River, and 
the latter at or near Grafton. The other companies were re- 
cruited in Meigs, Gallia, and Athens counties, Ohio, and Mason 
county, West Virginia. The regimental officers wqre : J. A. 
J. Lightburn, Colonel; William H. H. Russell, Lieutenant 
Colonel ; and John F. Hall, Major. George K. Ackley, of 
Racine, was appointed Surgeon of the regiment. 

And now I am about to enter upon the life of a soldier. 
While at Mason City our company received their arms and 
accoutrements, and donned their blue uniforms. The muskets 
were of the old pattern, used by the armies of Generals Scott 
and Taylor in the Mexican war. 

Early in the month of August we were ordered to Point 
Pleasant, and were soon steaming down the Ohio on a 
transport. We now began the study of military tactics, and 
by the last of August I had learned much of the company 
drill and the manual of arms. During this month, permits 
were freely given to- those who wished to visit the loved ones 



76 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



at home. On two occasions, if I remember correctly, I had 
the pleasure of visiting my wife and children. 

The active military service of the regiment began about the 
first of September. One morning, long before the cock crew, 
we were called up from a roll on the ground by a roll of drums, 
and the old familiar command was heard — "Fall in ! " We 
obeyed orders, but were kept standing in the ranks till after 
daylight, when, having partaken of a hapty breakfast, four 
companies of the regiment, including Company E, were 
marched on board a transport, and were soon steaming up the 
Kanawha. The command disembarked at the mouth of 
Pocataligo, marched about eight miles up that river, and 
bivouaced. This was our first bivouac, and we laid on our 
arms in line of battle. 

Late ill the night the familiar form of Li<Hitenant Carson 
was seen a])pr(>aching the bivouac, and he laid his body down 
beside me. On the following niorning I was awake very early 
and found my hat, gun, knapsack and other accoutrements 
safe by my side. The lieutenant was also soon awake, and on 
picking u|> what he supposed to be his hat, found that he had 
picked up a citizen's hat, a})parently very much worn, and in 
a dilapidated condition. On looking at it, the lieutenant ex- 
claimed : "Where is my hat? This is not mine." Observing 
my hat lying on the ground near by, Comrade Carson picked 
it up, and regardless of my protest put it on his head. How- 
evei', before A'e received marching orders, a citizen came into 
camp with a soldier's hat in his hand This I approi)rialed to 
my own use, and while it lasted, had the honor of wearing the 
head-gear of a, lieutenant. 

From the Kanawha wt^ marched to Spencer, in Roane 
county, that place l)eing our destination. The object of this 
movement was to relieve the Union home guards, who were 
hard pressed by the rebel bushwhackers. The home guards 
were beseiged for about three days, but ere our arrival, they 
had gained the victory, and driven the confederates away. It is 
also very probable that the rebels received information that 
a detachment of the " Bloody Fourth " was on the march for 
the relief of Spencer, and acted accordingly. 

We now began to exi)erience the privations of camp life. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 77 



While on the march up the Pocataligo, some of my messmates 
traded our coffee, or the most of it, for green corn, and this 
deprived me for several days of my accustomed aromatic 
beverage. During the first week at Spencer, provisions were 
scarce, and there was also much suffering among the soldiers 
from want of hospital stores. However, in about ten days a 
train arrived with the necessary and much needed supplies. 

The time was now mainly spent in scouting, and we brought 
in numerous squads of "secesh," who took the oath to support 
the Constitution of the United States. Many also came in 
voluntarily, delivered up their arms and took the oath. 

As soon as the necessary medical supplies arrived. Surgeon 
Ackley established a hospital, and I w^as detailed as acting 
hospital steward. This gave me an excellent opportunity to 
observe the surgeon's treatment of gun shot wounds, and the 
diseases incident to military service. An opportunity soon 
presented itself for Dr. Ackley to try his skill as an army sur- 
geon. A gentleman named Gibson, who was a Union man 
and resided near Spencer, was shot in the face by a bush- 
whacker, the missile breaking or comminuting both sides of 
the lower maxilla, and also horribly lacerating the muscles of 
the face. I assisted in removing the fragments of bone, con- 
sisting of all that part of the bone to the angle, including the 
teeth. He was fed with milk and soups by mearis of a tube 
inserted into the stomach. The wound healed, but left him 
destitute of his lower teeth. 

About the first of November, Captain Brown was left in 
command of the post at Spencer, and the other companies 
under Col. Lightburn, returned to Point Pleasant. Dr. Ackley 
accompanied the troops to the Point, leaving me as acting as- 
sistant surgeon. I performed my duties to the best of my 
ability, and nothing serious occurred. 

Early in December, we received orders to join the regiment 
and were soon under way towards Ravenswood. This was a 
very disagreeable march, for there was an abundance of rain, 
and the creeks were swollen to the top of their banks. We 
marched through the rain and mud, plunged through the 
streams, being frequently in the water up to our waists. This, 
however was only a foretaste of our military experience. 



78 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



From Ravenswood the company was transported on a 
steamer to Point Pleasant. I then learned that W. A. Kallous- 
souski, of Company N., a native of Poland and an excellent 
pharmacist, was the acting hospital steward, and I was there- 
upon transferred to the ranks. I also found that John R. 
Philson, of Racine, Ohio, had been appointed assistant sur- 
geon, and George S. Woodhull, chaplain of the regiment. 

Some time in December, Col. Lightburn received orders to 
move his regiment to Ceredo, and a government transport 
soon carried us to our destination. The Fifth West Va. In- 
fantry was then stationed at Ceredo, but they were soon after- 
wards removed to another point and our regiment took their 
place. About this time I superceded Comrade Kalloussouski 
in the stewardship, and received a permanent appointment as 
regimental hospital steward. 

The regiment spent the winter and early part of the succeed- 
ing spring at Ceredo. There was a battalion drill nearly every 
day. and the regiment was noted for its fine appearance, noble 
bearing, and correct military movements. 

Nothing occurred of interest in a military way ; but sickness 
prevailed extensively among the troops, pneumonia, bronchi- 
tis, typhoid fever, diarrhea and rheumatism being the prevail- 
ing diseases. Very frequently I had fifty prescriptions to fill 
daily, and comrade Kalloussouski would be sometimes detail- 
ed to assist me at the hospital. The bugle sounded the sick 
call at nine in the morning, when the out door sick would be 
marched to the hospital, escorted by a non-commissioned of- 
ficers. The regiment lost eight men by disease terminating in 
death, eleven were discharged for disability, one accidentally 
shot, and one was discharged by civil authority. Up to this 
time the losses at Point Pleasant were, by disease terminating 
in death, five ; discharged for disability, two ; deserted, one ; 
making a total loss to the regiment during 1861 , of twcntj^-nine 
enlisted men. 

Camp life, however, furnished many incidents of amuse- 
ment, and these occurred at Ceredo, as well as at other places. 
Talesian R. Williams, familiarly known in the regiment as 
"Tally," was a good soldier, but loved too well to "look upon 
the wine when it is red, and giveth its color in the cup." I 



THOS. H. BARTON. 79 



kept essence of cinnamon and peppermint for sale at the dis- 
pensary, and the boys would frequently trade with me. The 
essence was put up in three fourths ounce vials. One day, 
Tally came to the dispensary, and asked me what I would 
charge for half a dozen vials of the essence of peppermint, 
the empty vials to be returned. We at once agreed in regard 
to the price, and I filled his order and received my pay. I sup- 
posed that he intended to take the essence to his quarters, but 
instead of doing so, he uncorked one of the vials and emptied 
the contents into his stomach, then another, and another until 
the half dozen vials were emptied. He then returned the 
empty vials, and started for his quarters. Soon afterwards, 
however, he was arrested for being boisterous, and was placed 
in the guard house. He had in his gastric cavity one fourth 
pint of alcohol and one drachm of the oil of peppermint. 
Such a dose is sufficient to kill a common man, but it had no 
other effect on Tally than to cause intoxication and make him 
boisterous. 

Col. Lightburn issued an order that no intoxicating liquors 
should be brought into camp; but the boys soon devised a 
plan to checkmate the colonel's order. A soldier, who was 
thirsty and wished to satisfy his desire would procure a pass, 
so that he could go to Cattlettsburg, Kentucky, where there 
was an abundance of the unadulterated juice of the corn. 
Here he would imbibe to his satisfaction, and, in order to 
bring some to his comrades, would fill the barrel of his 
musket with whisky, cork up the muzzle, and thus escape the 
scrutiny of the guard. 

Surgeon Ackley was, at this time, in the prime of life, witty 
and jovial, of rare good humor, and fond of a practical joke. 
On one occasion, he took the jug containing my alcohol, and 
emptied the contents into another vessel, at the same time 
filling my alcohol jug with water. He knew that I was about 
to prepare a supply of the essence of cinnamon, and kept him 
self in readiness to watch the performance. I put the usual 
amount of the oil of cinnamon into a pint bottle, and then 
filled it with what I supposed to be alcohol. I was greatly 
surprised to observe that the ingredients would not mix, while 
the surgeon, together with several of the hospital attendants', 
enjoyed my perplexity. 



80 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Comrade Kalloussouski was rather fond of the hospital 
whiskey. One day, I put sonie tartar emetic into a bottle of 
whiskey and placed it in a conspicuous place; soon afterwards 
my assistant helped himself to a dram. It acted on him with 
good effect as an emetic, vomiting him very freely. Such kind 
reader, was life in the arm3\ 

About tlie last of April, 1862, Col. Lightburn reeeived orders 
to evacuate Ceredo, and move his regiment to Charleston. 
We were marched on board a transport and were soon under 
way, ever}' soldier being well pleased with the change. Soon 
after our arrival at Charleston, two companies, under the com- 
mand of Major Hall, with Surgeon Philson and myself to care 
for the sick and wounded, were ordered to Chapmansville in 
Logan county. This place took its name from Mr. Chapman, 
who was a prominent citizen of that locality, and his residence 
was used as a hospital and guard house, leaving sufficient 
room for himself and family, A rude fort was soon con- 
structed. It was built of logs from some old buildings, to- 
gether with other timber, and contained about half an acre of 
ground. We had one smooth bore gun, and, in the event of 
danger from Jenkin's cavalry were to be reinforced by two 
additional companies, making four in all, that being the largest 
force at any time at Chapmansville. The rest of the regi- 
ment remained at Charleston, doing guard and provost duty. 

An old gentleman named Stickley, who was a clergyman 
and had two sons in company K., lived with the regiment 
and messed at the hospital. One day, it was announced that 
Bro. Stickley would preach on the following Sabbath, and a 
large congregation turned out to hear the sermon. Besides 
soldiers, there was a large number of ladies in attendance, and 
the boys were well pleased to see sunbonnets and calico. 
Bro. Stickley preached an excellent Union sermon, and en- 
deavored to convey sentiments of patriotism as well as the 
truths of the gospel. Another appointment was then made 
for the following Sabbath ; but when the time arrived, the 
good old minister was much surprised to find that he had no 
hearers except gentlemen in blue coats. His former sermon 
had scared the ladies, and they would not come to hear him. 
This shows but little Union sentiment then existing at Chap- 
mansville. 



Thos. h. Barton. gi 



Our time was now mainly employed in doing guard duty, 
and small parties would frequently be sent o,ut on a scouting 
expedition. On the 6th of August, Major Hall, with a force ot 
forty-eight men under his command, was met at Beach Creek, 
near Logan Court House, by about two hundred rebel cavalry 
or mounted infantry, under Col. Stratton and Major Witcher. 
A sharp skirmish ensued in which Major Hall and two privates 
were killed and twelve wounded. Of the Confederates, Major 
Witcher was killed, and two or three were wounded. Upon 
the death of their commander, the scouting party retreated, 
bearing their wounded comrades with them. 

In the death of Major Hall, the regiment lost an able and 
efficient officer. He was young, brave, generous and kind ; 
a graduate of West Point, and well qualified to fill the honor- 
able station that he occupied. His body was recovered and 
interred at Charleston, and the remains were afterwards re- 
moved to Point Pleasant. 

The command fared well at this place in the way of rations, 
trading their supplies of coffee, pork, beans and rice, for 
chickens and butter. Moreover, we enjoyed ourselves and'had 
no fear of being attacked and captured by the enemy. But 
since the war, I have many times thought of our situation. 
The country between Charleston and Chapmansville is wild 
and picturesque, being intersected with narrow valleys and 
deep ravines surrounded with high hills. I have often won- 
dered why we could feel safe in this lonely situation. Here 
was a mere handful of men, in an enemy's country, fifty 
miles from the nearest post of Union soldiers, and in great 
danger of being overpowered by a superior force, and either 
killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. But the soldier soon 
becomes accustomed to danger, and is calm and resolute and 
even cheerful in the presence of death. 

The regiment lost five men at Chapmansville : Three were 
killed in action, one died of disease, and one deserted. At 
Charleston the loss was seventeen : Three died of disease, one 
was accidentally shot, two were drowned, two deserted, and 
nine were discharged for disability. The total loss of the 
regiment up to this time was fifty-one. 

The next military experience which the regiment was called 



32 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



upon to undergo was Colonel Lightburn's retreat from the 
Kanawha valley. This, I believe, is unwritten history— at 
least I have never read any account of it. That the reader may 
understand the subject intelligently, I have arranged it under 
the following heads : 1. A brief sketch of the military move- 
ments in Virginia and around Washington, which caused this 
retreat. 2. Colonel Lightburn's preliminary operations. 
3. The retreat. 

h During the night after the battle of Malvern Hill, fought 
July 1st, 1862, General McClellan retreated to Harrison's 
Landing! on the James river, under the protection of the gov- 
ernment gunboats. Here he remained for some time, and the 
armies, both of Lee and McClellan, had received such hard 
pounding that neither seemed anxious to renew the conflict. 
General Pope was at this time in command of the Army of 
Northern Virginia, having under him a force of about fifty 
thousand men, together with all the troops in and around 
Washington. 

McClellan remained in camp till the fourth of August, 
when General Halleck, who was commander-in-chief of all the 
Union armies, ordered him to evacuate Harrison's Landing 
and report at Washington, the object being to move overland 
on Richmond, according to the president's original plans 
General Lee must have learned of this contemplated move, for 
he thereupon sent General Stonewall Jackson's corps to the 
Rappahannock to watch Pope. This move resulted in the 
battle of Cedar Mountain, between Jackson's corps and the 
advanced forces of the Union army under General Banks. 
This battle was fought on the ninth of August, and General 
Banks was defeated. 

McClellan evacuated Harrison's Landing on the sixteenth 
of August, and a part of his army arrived on the Potomac in 
time to assist Pope. Upon the withdrawal of McClellan from 
the James, Lee joined Jackson with his whole force, and 
attacked Pope, hoping to defeat him before he could be joined 
by McClellan. He penetrated to his rear, destroyed his depot 
of supplies at Manassas, and defeated him in a series of 
battles on the 28th, 29th and 30th of August— the last engage- 
ment, the second battle of Bull Run, being one of the best 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



83 



fought fields of the war-and drove him within the lines of 
Washington. General Lee now conceived the idea of invading 
Maryland, and taking Washington in the rear, and great 
anxiety was felt for the safety of the capital. 

While these important moves were being made oh the chess- 
board of Virginia, General Cox was in command in the Kana- 
wha V^al ley, having under him a force of twelve or fifteen 
thousand men, stationed at various points from Charleston to 
the mountains. In view of the danger in the east, Gen Cox 
was wuhdrawn from the Kanawha, together with all the troops 
that could be spared. He took with him eight or ten thousand 
men and ^rnved on the Potomac in time to participate in the 
battles of South Mountain and Antietam. He left behind him 
in the valley one brigade, composed of the 34th and 37th Ohio 
and the 4th and 9th West Virginia regiments, with a detach- 
ment of two companies of the 2nd West Virginia cavalry 
under the command of Col. Lightburn. 

2 With this small force Col. Lightburn had to protect the 
valley of the Kanawha, and he also had a large amount of gov- 
ernment property under his charge. The brigade was stati Jned 
at different localities from Charleston to Fayette Court House 
including the force atChapmansville. 

Early in September intelligence was received that Gen. Lorino- 
was inarching down the valley with an army estimated to have 
been from eight to ten thousand strong; and Col. Lightburn 
began to call in the several detachments under his command 
and make preparations to retreat, his object being to show a 
farm front to the enemy, and at the same time avoid a general 
engagement. ° 

On the 10th of September our command received orders to 
evacuate Chapmansville and report at Charleston as soon as 
possible. We were soon on the march, taking with us our 
provisions and medical stores, and on the morning of the 
.3th arrived at Brownstown, on the Kanawha. I now learned 
that Gen. Loring was making a rapid march down the valley 
About the 10th his command had reached Favette, where 
Col. Sieber, of the 37th Ohio, was encamped. Col Sieber 
was in a fort, and had about half a dozen howiters, manned 
by a detail from his regiment. Here he was attacked by the 



34 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



Confederate advance, and some fighting occurred. Col. Light- 
burn, fearing that he would be surrounded and cut off, 
ordered him to evacuate Fayette and retreat to Charleston. To 
this order. Col. Sieber replied, in genuine Teutonic style: 
" Curnelle, I can hold my posish for any length of time." His 
German blood was up, and he wanted to inflict additional pun- 
ishment upon his insolent adversary. Lightburn thereupon 
sent him a peremptory order to come forthwith, and also sent 
two companies of the Fourth regiment to his assistance, and 
the retreat commenced. Col. Sieber reached Charleston about 
noon on the 13th, and, daring his retreat, more or less 
shirmishing took i)lace. 

On the morning of the same day, Surgeon Ackley met us 
at Brownstown, where he procured a small flat boat on which 
were placed our provisions and hospital supplies. He also 
brought with him a squad of hospital attendants to assist in 
taking our supplies to Charleston. The surgeon labored like 
a private soldier. The river was very shallow, and, for ten 
miles we had a laborious task rowing and pushing our boat 
along. We reached Charleston about noon, and six or seven 
of the hospital attendants were then detailed to take the boat 
and cargo to Point Pleasant. 

3. The tale of rout and disaster is always the same. Intense 
excitement prevailed in the city. The streets were thronged with 
people, many of whom were preparing to follow our army, or 
leave the town, for they feared that the battle of Charleston 
was about to be fought over their heads. All the government 
property, for which there was transportation, was now placed 
on a train, and, about two in the afternoon, the train started 
in advance for Ravenswood on the Ohio river. About one 
o'clock Col. Lightburn crossed Elk river, and the torch was 
applied to the government building containing the stores that 
could not be removed. The bridge across Elk was then 
destroyed. 

Charleston is situated at the confluence of the Kanawha and 
the Elk, the two rivers forming at their junction very nearly 
a right angle. A turnpike follows the course of the Kanawha, 
and crosses the Elk at Charleston. Col. Lightburn, as I now 
remember, formed his line of battle as follows : The 9th West 



THOS. H. BARTUN. • 85 



Virginia regiment was placed near the mouth of Elk, fronting 
that stream. The 34th Ohio was formed at a right angle with 
the 9th West Virginia, and fronted the Kanawha. The 4th 
West Virginia and 37th Ohio were formed near the Elk, east 
of the pike, their lines extending some distance up that river. 
Two companies of the 2nd West Vinginia cavalry were sta- 
tioned in a barn at a short distance to the rear of the 34th 
Ohio. Our old smooth-bore gun and Col. Siebert's battery of 
howitzer's were placed on a small eminence east of the turn- 
pike. 

The confederates opened the engagement from a battery on 
a hill south of Charleston, our battery replying. The rebels 
had a parrot gun on the opposite side of the Kanawha. It was 
now about two in the afternoon. Surgeon Ackley and myself, 
together with several of the hospital attendants, were on the 
pike about one hundred yards north of the Elk. Early in the 
engagemnet I walked near the 9th West Virginia and 34th 
Ohio, to observe what was going on on the other side of these 
rivers. The 9th West Virginia were building a breastwork 
with rails. The rebels were very busy, and in a few minutes 
I heard the boom of a gun on the opposite side of the Kana- 
wha, and at the same time saw a red projectile sailing grace- 
fully through the air, with the usual curvilinear movement. 
It passed about twelve feet above the 34th Ohio, struck the 
ground about fifty paces in the rear, rebounded and struck 
the barn where the cavalry were stationed, burning the barn, 
but doing no other damage. At this moment an officer (I 
suppose he was the colonel) stepped to the front, waved his 
sword, and his clear voice rang out : " Atten-t-i-o-n ! Thirty- 
fourth Ohio ! By companies, to the rear into line, Makch ! " 
The captains of their respective companies instantly re- 
peated the command, and the regiment was on its way to the 
rear. I began to think that this meant business, and also 
faced about and "marched," being very careful, however, to 
keep near to the flank of the 34th Ohio. I had rejoined 
Surgeon Ackley but a few minutes, when another red hot 
projectile was thrown from the enemy's battery, struck the 
fence about twenty yards from us, tearing u]) the fence and 
burying itself in the ground. We then took shelter behind a 



86 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



large oak tree. From this time I had a poor chance for ob- 
servation, and lost the further action of the 9th West Virginia 
and 34th Ohio. 

The firing from the artillery was rapid for the number of 
guns engaged. Our old smooth-bore was manned by a detail 
from the regiment, under the command of a private of com- 
pany K. He was a native of Sweden, a well drilled soldier, 
and I regret that I can not give his name, for he was a noble 
fellow, and stood by his gun till the last moment. One of the 
gunners was killed, and at this instant, another was about to 
desert his post, wheQ the Swede turned on him furiously and 
said : "Comrade, come back and man thfsgun, or I will blow 
you through with my revolver." The order was instantly 
ol>eyed, and the comrade returned to his duty. 

The artillery ceased firing about five o'clock. The 4th 
West Virginia and 37th Ohio did some skirmishing along Elk 
River, but did not come to a close engagement, the river being 
between the contending forces. These regiments held their 
position till sunset, when they were ordered to retreat. The 
skirmishing, however, continued till darkness set in, when the 
enemy fell back to Charleston. Our regiment being spread 
out to a considerable distance on the skirmish line, caused a 
detachment of two companies to be left on the field, but dur- 
ing the night they rejoined the command. 

Soon after the first gun was fired, a smoke was seen about 
half a mile down the Kanawha. This was from the boat con- 
taining our supplies. Surgeon Ackley's squad of hospital at- 
tendants had applied the torch to the boat and cargo, and 
were no doubt, making rapid strides towards Point Pleasant. 

Col. Lightburn, together with the officers and soldiers under 
his command, deserve great praise for their firmness during 
this engagement. The enemy, with vastly superior numbers, 
did not seem to act with much energy, and appeared satisfied 
to remain in Charleston, where the}' could procure i)lenty of 
salt for their fresh beef. The Fourth regiment lost six men. 
Company A had two killed. Company B two, Company C 
one, and Company E, one killed. I can not give the number 
of the wounded, and the Confederate loss is unknown. 

During the retreat from Fayette, George VV. Gilliland, of 



THOS. H. BAKTON. 87 



Company C, and three or four others were taken prisoners 
near Brownstown. They were taken to Libhy prison where 
they remained for several months, and were then exchanged. 
Comrade Gilliland is a resident of Syracuse, Ohio, and at pre- 
sent a prominent merchant of this place. 

Col. Lightburn reached Ravenswood soon after midnignt on 
the 16th of September. Since leaving Chapmansville, I had 
been five days on the march, and felt weary and exhausted, 
and when the army halted in the night, which it did several 
times. I laid down on the ground and would soon be asleep. 
On the following morning, I took a leave of absence on my 
own responsibility — commonly called a '"French," and walked 
across the country to Chester, where my wife was then resid- 
ing. I arrived in time for dinner, tired, hungry and footsore, 
and had a happy reunion with my wife and children, six 
months absence in the army having created an eager desire to 
see the loved ones at home. Next day I bid them farewell, 
spent one night with my brother at Addison, and rejoined the 
regiment at Point Pleasant. 

Col. Lightburn continued his march, and reached Racine on 
the evening of the 16th. Here some of the officers and soldiers 
of Company E had the pleasure of spending one night at home 
with their friends. Next day our regiment marched on board 
a transport, which took them to Point Pleasant ; the other 
regiments arrived on the same day, and the army went into 
camp. Col. Lightburn began to throw up intrenchments, and 
he was soon afterwards reinforced by two regiments -of Gen. 
Morgan's command, after the retreat from Cumberland Gap. 

At this time, the affairs of the government were in a deplor- 
able condition in Virginia and West Virginia. Three months 
previous, Gen. McClellan had Richmond beseiged, having in 
his possession all the northern, eastern, and southern parts of 
Virginia, leaving the rebels in possession of the south-western 
parts. Gen. Cox held the whole of western Virginia. But, in 
the short space of three months the government was driven to 
the necessity of acting on the defensive. 

Early in October, Gen. Cox returned from the east with his 
command, and preparatians were immediately commenced for 
another advance up the Kanawha. He had a divisional drill 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



on the southern side of the Kanawha, and it was a grand and 
imposing affair. This was the first opportunity I had to ob- 
serve the evolutions of a large array. Daring our say at Point 
Pleasant, I was visited by my wife and children, and once 
more enjoyed the pleasure of a family reunion. 

On the 16th of October, Gen. Cox commenced his advance, 
the 4th West Virginia regiment being in the rear. We had 
not proceeded more than a mile, or two, when we were over- 
taken by a physician, who kept a small drug store at Point 
Pleasant. Surgeon Ackley had used his store as a dispensary, 
and I had kept a file of the prescriptions, so that the doctor 
could obtain his pay from the government, provided he was 
loyal. He demanded a voucher for the value of his medicines, 
but was quietly informed by Surgeon Ackley that he had ex- 
pressed sentiments of disloyalty, and he was compelled to go 
away disappointed. 

I was now among familiar scenes. When the regiment 
arrived opposite the Newman residence, I crossed the river, 
spent half an hour with father and mother Newman, and left 
my dear Martha's picture with them for safe keeping. This 
was the last time that I ever saw them. That night, the regi- 
ment encamped near the old Baptist church that I have men- 
tioned in a former chapter. I passed the night with William 
Sullivan ; and, in the morning spent half an hour at the tomb 
of my wife and child. I heard the loud beat of the drum and 
the shrill notes of the fife ; but on this balmy autumn morning 
I had no taste for martial music. My mind was in the past, 
reviewing those scenes which had once been dear to me, but 
were never more to return. 

Gen. Cox arrived at Charleston on the 2(Jth, but found that 
the enemy had.evacuated that place, and they were no doubt, 
making rapid strides towards the mountains. After a short 
stay at Charleston, Gen. Cox resumed his march, our regiment 
following in the rear, till we reached Gauley Bridge at the 
junction of the New and Gauley Rivers. Here the Fourth regi- 
ment went into camp. Surgeons Ackley and Philson had a 
furnace constructed under the hospital tent. This arrange- 
ment kept up a regular and uniform heat, and was of great 
benefit to the sick soldiers. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



In the latter part of November, Col. Lightburn received or- 
ders to move his regiment to Fayette Court House. Soon 
after our arrival, the boys commenced building winter quarters, 
expecting to spend the winter at this place. But they were 
doomed to be disappointed. Preparations were being made 
for a vigorous campaign against Vicksburg, and the regiment 
was soon to be on its way to the Sunny South. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE CAMPAIG.V OF VICKSBURG 

Vicksburg is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi 
river, three hundred and ninety-five miles above New Orleans, 
and seven hundred and thirty-nine below St. Louis. It is dis- 
tant by water from Cairo about six hundred and thirty miles, 
and from Memphis nearly four hundred miles. It is also over 
a hundred miles above Natchez. Vicksburg was of vast im- 
portance to the enemy as a strategic point. It occupies the 
first high ground coming to the river below Memphis. From 
there a railroad runs east connecting with other roads, leading 
to all points of the Southern States. A railroad also starts 
from the opposite side of the river, extending west as far as 
Shreveport, Louisiana. Moreover, Vicksburg was, at this titiie, 
the only connection between the parts of the confederacy 
divided by the Mississippi ; and, while held by the enemy, the 
free navigation of the river was prevented. The city is on 
elevated ground and the river just above it, makes a sharp 
turn to the north-east, rounds a point, and returns on its 
course south-west, thus forming a tongue of land twelve miles 
long and one wide, with intersections between Vicksburg and 
Tuscumbia. 

Art was brought to the assistance of nature in order to render 
the city impregnable. A bluff below the town was surrounded 
with a fort, and the defences were otherwise formidable. The 
bank of the river rises gradually for two miles back, and on 
this curved slope lies the town, imbeded in a natural cradle. 
Above and below the city, on the sides of the slope, lay the 



90 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



batteries. Haines' Bluff, naturally intersected with gullies, 
lay further to the north, and was also strongly fortified with 
abattis and felled timber to the width on an average of a mile. 
At the foot of the bluff the enemy had constructed rifle pits 
the entire way. Above the rifle pits, and in the face of the 
bluff, they had erected batteries mounting one gun each all 
the way along. On the summit of the bluff, earthworks were 
thrown up, in order to cover the artillery whenever it should 
be brought into action. Thuri these entire ranges of hills to 
the north and west of Vicksburg was one complete, bristling 
fortification, well worthy of being designated — as it was by the 
Confederates — the "Gibraltar of America." 

The history of ths campaign of Vicksburg naturally divides 
itself into four periods. The first, commencing with the com- 
bined movements of Grant and Sherman in November, 1862, 
terminates when Grant assumed command in person at 
Youngs Point, January 30th, 1863. 

The second opens with Grant's attempt to cut a canal ac-oss 
the tongue of land opposite Vicksburg, and thus change the 
channel of the Mississippi. This period embraces the history 
of the Yazoo Pass, Lake Providence, and Deer creek expedi- 
tions ; the running of the rebel batteries at Port Hudson by 
Farragut ; the loss of the government ram Queen of the West 
and the destruction of the gun-boat Indianola. The period 
terminates on the 16th of April, when the army was concen- 
trated at Miliken's Bend, preparatory to crossing the Missis- 
sippi at Grand Gulf The principal events of the first two 
periods are related in the present chapter. 

The third i>eriod, commencing with the movement of the 
fleet and army down the Mississippi, terminates with the final 
investment of Vicksburg, May 22d, 1863. It embraces an ac- 
count of the running of the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg ; 
the movement of the army down the west bank of the Missis- 
sippi; the crossing of the river at Bruinsburg; the battle of 
Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson and Champion's Hill; the 
forcing of the Big Black river, and the driving of Pemberton 
within the fortifications of Vicksburg. 

The fourth period covers a space of forty three days, and 
embraces the seige proper, from its investment till the surren- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 91 



der of the city, July 4th, 1863. The army of the Tennessee, 
which accomplished this brilliant achievement, consisted of 
four corps — the 13th commanded by McClernand ; the 15th, 
under the command of Sherman; the 16th, commanded by 
Hurlburt, and the 17th, under the command of McPherson. 

On the 2nd of November, 1862, Generals Grant and Sherman 
planned an expedition against this formidable place. At this 
time their headquarters was at Memphis, Tennessee. Sherman 
was to proceed down the river on transports to Vicksburg and 
attack the rebels in front, and was to be assisted by Gen. 
Banks from New Orleans, together with Farragut's fleet of gun 
boats, which was to ascend the river in order to divert the at- 
tention of the enemy south of Vicksburg ; while Grant himself 
was to proceed b_v rail to .Jackson City in the "rear of Vicks- 
burg, and draw tlie enemy from the place. '"On the 28th of 
November, General Hamilton's corps was put in motion for 
Holly Springs, which point he reached on the following day. 
The remaining troops followed ; and, on the 1st of December, 
Grant encamped at Lumpkin's Mills, seven miles north of the 
Tallnhatchie river. The enemy, commanded by General Pem- 
berton, had thrown up extensive works, with a view of defend- 
ing the passage of the river; but simultaneously with the 
advance of Hamilton, General Hovey had been detached with 
a division, seven thousand strong, of General Curtis' troops, 
from Helena, Arkansas, to cross the river, and make a flank 
movement upon the Confederate position on the Tallahatchie. 
Intelligence of this movement caused Van Dorn, who held the 
Confederate advance, to fall back, and on the 3d he passed 
through Oxford, his rear guard skirmishing with the Federal 
advance ; General Pemberton continued his retreat to Grenada 
under the impression that the combined force under Curtis 
and Grant, in his front, was very large. Hovey, however, 
after destroying some property on the railroad, and boats on 
the river, returned to Helena, when Pemberton immediately 
assumed the offensive. Grants headquarters were at Oxford, 
and his chief depot of supplies at Holly Springs, thirty miles 
north." 

Col. Murphy was in command at this place, having a force 
of about fifteen hundred men, and he also had a large amount 



92 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



of army supplies under his charge. Van Dorn thereupon 
made a flank movement, reached Holly Springs on the 20th of 
December, and demanded the surrender of the garrison. Col. 
Murphy surrendered, without offering any resistance, and 
almost simultaneously Jackson, Tennessee, Humboldt and 
Trenton were captured by the enemy, the garrisons making 
their escape. Grant's communications with the North were 
thus cut off, and the supplies for his army either captured or 
destroyed. 

"Up to this time it had been regarded as an a,xiom of war 
that large bodies of troops must operate from a base of sup- 
plies which they always covered and guarded in all forward 
movements." (Grant's Memoirs, Vol. I. p 424.) Gen. Grant 
had not yet learned that an army could subsist in an enemy's 
country without a base of supplies, otherwise he could have 
pushed on after Pemberton, and crowded him to the gates of 
Vicksburg. Instead of this, however, Grant retraced his steps 
to Holly Springs, and began preparations to return to Mem- 
phis, leaving Pemberton, who then fell back to Vicksburg, 

Meanwhile, Sherman proceeded down the river ; and on the 
2Gth of December, entered the mouth of the Yazoo river, nine 
miles above Vicksburg, he being entirely ignorant of Grant's 
failure in the co-operation ])lan. He had no means of flanking 
the formidable works in front of Vicksburg; and, on the 27th, 
landed his troops just below Haines' Bluff", and formed his 
line of battle. Pemberton returned to Vicksburg as soon as 
Grant commenced his retrograde movement, and the combined 
arnnes of Price and Pemberton amounted to fifty thousand 
men, and they had one hundred and sixty })ieces of artillery. 
The defenders outnumbered the storming party both in men 
and guns. Sherman faced his men south, and commenced 
the desperate attempt of carr^'ing this formidable place by 
storm. Brigade followed brigade over ravines and gullies up 
the precipitous acclivity to the first line of works; and when 
the shades of evening closed in, by almost superhuman exer- 
tion, had carried the first line of intrenchments. Skirmishing 
continued throughout the 27th, and on the 28th, Sherman, still 
ignorant of Grant's failure in the rear, ordered a general 
assault u\n)u the rebel stronghold. At the word of command 



THOS. H. BA.RTON. 93 



the men dashed forward with the utmost impetuosity, clearing 
the rifle-pits on the brow of the center hill on which the city- 
lay. Onward and upward they went until they had cleared 
the second line of defence, reinforcements coming up to their 
assistance. But they were met by such a murderous fire from 
the concealed enemy behind his works, that their efibrts were 
all in vain. Vicksburg could not be taken from the front. 
The advance brigades were then withdrawn Next day, Sher- 
man, under a flag of truce, buried his dead. He then retraced 
his steps, and returned to Young's Point, Louisiana. 

Gen. Banks failed to be of any service in this campaign. 
Sherman had no assistance except the gunboats, and they 
iailed to silence any of the rebel guns, the hight of the city 
above the river causing their shot to be thrown over the forts. 
Although the campaign ",nded in failure and disaster, yet it 
was the beginning of a series of operations destined to result 
in capturing the rebel Gibralter, opening the Mississippi river, 
and bisecting the Southern Confederacy. 

On the 2d of January, 1863, Gen. McClernand arrived at 

Young's Point, and being Sherman's senior, was placed in 

command. A council of war was held, and it was determined 

to reduce Arkansas Post, fifty miles up the Arkansas river. 

McClernand waived his right to command, and thereupon 

the troops were placed under Sherman, who proceeded with 

dispatch, and took the place by storm. The fruits of this 

victory were five thousand prisoners and seventeen pieces of 

artillery. 

******* 

I now return to Fayette Court House. About the 15th of 
December, 1862, the 4th West Virginia, together with the 37th 
and 47th Ohio regiments, were ordered south. Our regiment 
was placed in advance, marched to the head of navigation on 
the Kanawha, and then took passage on a government trans- 
port for Gallipolis, Ohio. 

In September, while the regiment was at Point Pleasant, a 
merchant tailor of Gallipolis came to me, and I employed him 
to make me a blue coat, according to the army regulations, 
agreeing to pay therefor the sum of fifteen dollars, current 
money of the realm. I hoped that we might go down the 



94 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



river unobserved by tbe tailor, but he was on the lookout, and 
came on board of our boat with the coat in his hand. Tlie 
garment was made of excellent material, and fit me nicely, and 
when I put it on, it made me look like an army officer. J 
shall have occasion to refer to this coat at a future period of my 
narrative. 

We were soon under way, steaming down the beautiful Ohio, 
not knowing where we would stop, but thinking Vicksburg, 
Mississippi, to be our destination. We reached Louisville, 
Kentucky, on Christmas, but were as yet uncertain whether 
we would proceed to Vicksburg, or go to Tennessee by rail. 

The brigade went into camp at Louisville, and while at this 
place, several girls, about eighteen or twenty years old, and 
very poorly clad, came into camp with their arms full of plug 
tobacco, hailing ever}- soldier they met : " Der yer want some 
terbaccer? " They did not let me escape, and hailed me in 
the same way; but I did not buy any of their "terbaccer," 
because I did not use the weed. It is to be hoped that they met 
with success, for they needed money to purchase decent cloth- 
ing. 

On the 28th, newsboys came into camp with the morning 
papers, crying : " Morning papers ! ther's been a battle at 
Vicksburg." The papers were in great demand among the 
soldiers, and on reading the news, we learned that Sherman 
had taken the outer works of Vicksburg, and expected to be 
able to ca])ture the city. On the 30th, the newsboys again 
made their appearance, shouting : " Morning papers ! ther's 
been another battle at Vicksburg " We then sincerely hoped 
that Sherman had been successful, but to our great surprise and 
sorrow, we read the sad intelligence that he had been repulsed. 
Soon afterwards we were again on board a transport, steaming 
down the Ohio, our destination being Vicksburg. 

Traveling on a crowded transport is very disagreeable, and 
the soldier soon becomes eager to go ashore. Moreover, 
there is always more or less sickness among the troo])S, and 
the discipline of the army is likewise very much impaired. 

When the brigade reached Cairo, Illinois, we were met by 
about eighteen or twenty thousand western troops, and a fleet 
of i:bout twenty transports carried the army down the Missis- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 95 



sippi. The fleet arrived at Memphis in due time, and the 
troops were disembarkod on the opposite side of the river. 
It was a bright, warm afternoon, and I improved the time 
viewing the ciiv. But during the forepart of the night a hard 
rain fell, which turned to snow, and in the morning there was 
a covering of five or six inches of snow on the ground. This 
was very disagreeable for the soldiers. One man named Ferrell 
had a congestive chill. I found part of the trunk of a hollow 
tree which had been hollowed out like a trough, and put him 
in it to keep him off the ground. Surgeon Philson ordered 
large doses of quinine, which soon relieved him. 

From Memphis to Vicksburg, I performed the duty of army 
surgeon ; and, for a portion of the time, lost sight of Surgeon 
Philson. Considerable sickness prevailed on account of the 
crowded condition of the troops, and the constant use of river 
water. This caused irritation of the stomach and diarrhea, 
and large numbers of the soldiers were affected in this way. I 
had a short and uniform routine in the manner of my examin- 
ations. I would feel the pulse, count the number of pulsations, 
look at the tongue, and then inquire of the patient in regard 
to his appetite, and the condition of his stomach and bowels, 
and whether or not he was affected with vomiting and diarrhea. 
Having ascertained the facts, I would act accordingly. 

A feeling of relief was felt throughout the army, when the 

fleet hove in sight of Vicksburg. About the 20th of January, 

1863, the troops were disembarked at Young's Point, and every 

officer and soldier stepped on shore with a light heart. They 

were free from bondage on the transports. During the first 

night, several of the hospital attendants and myself slept on 

the levees, which was covered with a heavy layer of grass. We 

spread a gum blanket on the dead grass, and over it a woolen 

one, covering ourselves with a woolen blanket, and over it a 

gum one. This was the best night's sleep I enjoyed for many 

months. 

******* 

The army encamped at Young's Point without any shelter 
from the heavy rains, except the broad canopy of the heavens. 
The troops were not allowed tents on account of being within 
easy range of the rebel batteries on the bluffs above Vicksburg. 



96 AUTOBIOGRAPHY dP 



Many of the soldiers dug holes in the levee, and covered them 
with gum blankets, thus living more like wild animals than 
Union soldiers fighting to maintain the best government on 
earth. But they bore it patiently, for they knew it to be a dire 
necessity. 

Throughout the winter of 1862-3, the rains had been almost 
incessant along the lower Mississippi, and the low ground was 
submerged with water. In consequence ot this, the army was 
encamped for many miles along the river front. The troops 
had to occupy the levees and the ground immediately behind, 
and their camps extended from Young's Point to Lake Provi- 
dence, seventy miles above Vicksburg. 

Gen. Grant arrived at Young's Point on the 29th of January, 
assumed command of all the troops operating against the 
confederate stronghold, and immediately turned his attention 
to opening a canal across the tongue of land opposite Vicks- 
l)urg. If this could be accomplished, the navigation of the 
Mississippi would be opened, and Vicksburg left an inland 
city. In 1862, Gen. Thomas Williams opened a small ditch 
about ten or twelve feet wide and as many deep, across this 
neck of land, in hopes that a rise in the river would cut a new 
channel, and thus open the river to the government transports. 
Gen. McClernand, after the expedition against Arkansas Post, 
was ordered by Gen. Halleck to enlarge this ditch, and several 
thousand men were put to work upon it. At the head of the 
canal, a large dam was erected to keep the river out until the 
work could be completed. Gen. Grant now prosecuted the 
scheme with great vigor, and about five thousand men were em- 
ployed in its construction. He had, however, very little con- 
fidence in the success of the plan, for if a new channel could 
have been opened, it would have been unsafe for navigation, 
being so near the batteries of Vicksburg. Moreover, at the head 
of the canal the water of the river had scarcely any current, 
and there was little chance of its changing the course of the 
stream. Gen. Grant's idea, however, was to amuse the people 
of the north with the notion that something was being done ; 
and, at the same time, divert the attention of the rebels. Be- 
sides, it was better to keep the soldiers employed, than permit 
them to remain idle in their tents. For two months the news 



THOS. H. BARTON. 97 



flashed over the wires : "Grant is still digging." The dam at 
the head of the canal finally gave way, and let the water in be- 
fore it was completed, and all further operations on it were 
suspended. 

Gen. Grant was aware, from previous operations, that Vicks- 
burg could not be taken from the front, and that the only way 
to take the city, would be to cross the Mississippi, attack the 
enemy in the rear, while, at the same time, the gunboats were 
to shell the city from the river. 

While engaged in constructing the canal at Young's Point, 
Grant was also devising other plans to open the river. On the 
30th of January, Gen. McPherson, who was stationed with his 
corps at Lake Providence, was ordered to cut the levee at that 
point. Many predicted that this would make a new channel 
for the Mississippi through the mouth of Red river just above 
Port Hudson and four hundred miles below^ Vicksburg. 

Lake Providence is a part of the old bed of the Mississippi, 
about a mile from the present channel. It is six miles long 
and has an outlet through Bayou Baxter, Bayou Macon, and 
the Tensas, Washita and Red rivers, the last three rivers being 
navigable streams. A channel was cut from the Mississippi 
to Lake Providence, and a small steamer of about thirty tons 
burden, passed into the Lake. An exploring expedition found 
these waters so obstructed with trees and fallen timber, that it 
would be a herculean task to remove them. Moreover, bv this 
route, the distance from Lake Providence to the mouth of 
•Red river was about four hundred and seventy miles, and the 
Tensas, Washita and Red rivers being, as has been said, navi- 
gable streams, would give the rebels an excellent opportunity 
to obstruct the passage of troops and Government supplies. 
The canal at Young's Point proved a failure, and this work 
was also abandoned. 

Simultaneously with these operations. Grant planned an 
expedition with the object of getting in the rear of Vicksburg 
from the north. He sent Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson of his 
staff to Helena, Arkansas, with a view, if possible, to open a 
way through Moon Lake and the old Yazoo Pass. Moon Lake 
is situated nearly opposite Helena, and a narrow strip of land 
lies between this lake and the river, a dam or levee having 



98 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



been constructed to keep the waters of the Mississippi from 
fiowing into Moon Lake. This lake connects with the Yazoo 
Pasi!:, wliich flows into Cold Water River, and this unites with 
the Tallahatchie, which in turn flows into the Yallabusha, the 
two last mentioned rivers forming the Yazoo. Moon Lake is 
about two hundred and fifty miles from the mouth of the 
Yazoo River. The Cold Water and the Tallahatchie were 
formerly navigable streams, but after the construction of the 
levee between Moan Lake and the Mississippi, these rivers were 
rendered unnavigable. 

On the 2d of February, this dam, or levee, was cut. The 
water flowed through like a torrent, and soon removed the ob- 
struction, and flooded the surrounding country. On the 24th 
General Ross, with a brigade of 4,500 men on transports, and 
accompanied by two gunboats, passed into Moon Lake. He 
passed out of this lake into the Cold Water, and then into the 
Tallahatchie river. "It was a strange spectacle to see these ves- 
sels threading their way under overarching cypress trees, and 
plunging into apparently interminable swamps. It was like 
sailing through a flooded forest, made still more dangerous by 
the rapid flow of the swollen waters, which the Mississippi 
sent with headlong fury through this new channel. The paddle 
wheels instead of being used to propel the vessels, incessantly 
backed water to prevent their too rapid descent among the gi- 
gantic trees, whose overhanging branches sometimes swept the 
decks." 

Gen. Ross' progress was necessarily slow, and he would* 
sometimes not advance more than half a mile an hour. Ashe 
approached the Yazoo, the most diflicult part of his task seem- 
ed accomplished, steaming down the river to the rear of Vieks- 
burg being an easy task. But the enemy had anticipated his 
approach, and had erected a fort at the confluence of the Talla- 
hatchie and Yallabusha, and named it FortPemberton in hon- 
or of their commander at Vicksburg. It was erected on a small 
piece of land almost in the form of an island and only about 
two feet above water at that stage of the river. Infantry were 
unavailable in consequence of the surrounding country being 
submerged with water. Lieutenant Watson Smith was in com- 
mand of the gunboats, and on the 11th of March, and again on 



THOS. H. BARTON. 99 



the 13th he attacked Fort Pemberton, but failed to reduce the 
place. One of the gunboats was disabled. Smith lost six men 
killed and twenty-five wounded. The Confederate loss was 
probably less. 

Fort Pemberton ,vas so little above the water that hopes were 
entertained that a rise of two feet would drive the enemy out. 
With this object in view, a second cut was made in tha Missis- 
sippi levee opposite Helena, six miles above the former cut. 
This, however, failed to accomplish the desired result, and 
Ross, with his fleet, started back. On the 22nd he was met at 
Yazoo pass by Gen. Quinb\^ with a brigade, and he, being the 
superior officer, assumed command. Quinby thereupon re- 
turned with the fleet to Fort Pemberton, and made an inspec- 
tion, but found that nothing further could be accomplished. 
The whole force then returned, and this scheme, as well as the 
others, proved a failure, and had to be abandoned. 

The part performed by the Mississippi flotilla in the seige of 
Vicksburg, and the Steel Bayou or Deer Creek expedition, are 
graphically described in an article written by W. H. Michael, 
late of the United States navy, and published in the National 
Tribune, June 28th, 1888. For the closing pages of this chapter, 
I have drawn my information from Mr. Michael's article. 

The fall of Arkansas Post caused the hasty evacuation of 
St. Charles, on the White river. The enemy escaped on steam- 
boats, taking with him great guns, and everything of value. 
But our boats followed so closely that the guns, which he had 
unloaded at Duvall's Bluff, and was in the act of loading them 
on the cars for Little Rock, fell into our hands. Our vessels 
continued the chase as far as was prudent to go. Orders came 
for the army to return to Vicksburg, when, on the 30th of 
January, 1863, Grant assumed command in person, and entered 
upon one of the most wonderful military performances of 
history. 

The tin clads were scattered along the Mississippi between 
Cairo and the mouth of the Yazoo, ready to co-operate with 
the army in any movement against Vicksburg. Other tin clads 
were patroling the Cumberland and Tennessee, and the Ohio 
between Paducah and Louisville. 

Upon Porter's return from Arkansas Post, he ordered the 



100 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



ram Queen of the West to run the batteries at Vicksburg and 
break up communication between that place and the Red 
River country, from which locality Pemberton's army was 
drawing its principal supplies. The Queen protected her sides 
with cotton bales, and started on her perilous mission at 4 : 20 
in the morning of February 2nd. With thirty or more guns 
playing on her, she rammed the rebel ram Vicksburg, which 
was lying at the wharf, doing her considerable damage. She 
was strur-k several times, and the cotton bales set on fire, 
but without serious damage or loss she accomplished her ex- • 
citing passage. 

The Queen now entered upon her work of destroying flat 
boats and other crafts used by the enemy in running supplies 
across the :^iver. She made several important captures of 
steamboats, and was in the midst of a most remarkable career 
of usefulness, when through the rashness of her young com- 
mander, Ellet, not then twenty years of age, she ventured too 
far up Red River, and was disabled off Gordon's landing by a 
battery that was too heavy for her. Unable to move his 
vessel, and prevented from burning her by having a wounded 
officer aboard, Ellet escaped with a part of his crew on cotton 
bales to a prize-steamer lying below. Some of the crew had 
taken the small boats, and made their escape without their 
commander's knowledge. Their explanation was that they 
desired to hurry up the steamer for the removal of the wounded 
officer. Thus the best ram of the fleet had passed into the 
hands of the enemy, with nothing but her steam pipe cut. 
When Ellet got into the Mississippi, he found the powerful 
iron clad Indianola, which had run the batteries on the 12th, 
awaiting him with coal and supplies. She had arrived a little 
too late to curb the impetuosity of the young Ellet and save 
the squadron from humiliation and loss. The Indianola turned 
her head up stream with the coal barges in tow, but made very 
slow progress against the current. 

The Queen was hastily repaired by the rebels, and in com- 
pany with the ram Welsh, started in hot pursuit of Elett's 
fleeing party. When they entered the Mississippi and found 
the Indianola, they hurriedly retreated into Red River, where 
they were joined by two armed cotton clad steamers. Thus 



THOS. H. BARTON. 101 



reinforced, they returned for the purpose of attack. The In- 
dianola offered them battle in daylight, but they declined it, 
preferring to take their chances under cover of dai'kness, 
when their antagonist would find it difficult to use her heavy 
guns to advantage. The fight was carried on for two hours, 
with spirit and dash on the part of the rams, and with dogged 
determination on the part of tlie Indianola. But in the dark- 
ness the rams had the advantage, and by rapid movements 
escaped the shots of the iron clad, and succeeded in repeatedly 
ramming her in the weakest parts till they sank her. Thus 
two of the best vessels of the squadron passed into the enemy's 
hands within two weeks, and the river between Vicksburg and 
Port Hudson was again in their undisturbed possession. 

In hopes of cauj-ing the enemy to l)low up the Indianola, 
which they were already trying to raise, a mock monitor, con- 
structed out of an old mud scow, with barrels for chimneys 
and mud furnaces, from which poured forth volumes of dense 
smoke, was sent down. The dummy drew forth from the rebel 
batteries a most terrific fire, but in dignified and contemptuous 
silence she floated b^^ The Queen of the West had come up 
with pumps to use in raising the Indianola, and when she saw 
the formidable dummy bearing down on her, she turned and 
fled percipitately. She carried the alarming news to the 
Welsh, and together they proceeded with all haste for Red 
River, leaving the party at work on the Indianola to take care 
of themselves. They hurriedly placed a couple of the Indi- 
anola's guns muzzle to muzzle and fired them ofl", set her upper 
works on fire, and escaped to the shore. 

The dummy accomplished more than was expected of it, 
and while the ruse caused unbounded fun on our side of tlie 
river, the enemy, when he discovered the trick played upon 
him, could hardly suppress his rage. The newspapers pub- 
lished in Vicksburg denounced the officers in command of 
the batteries as consummate stupids, because they " couldn't 
tell an old scow from a monitor." 

The Queen of the West did not venture again into the Mis- 
sissippi, but went on some mission into the bayous, where she 
fell in with some of Farragut's vessels, and was destroyed. 
The Welsh remained very quiet in Red River till the close of 



102 AUTOBIOGRAPHY (>F 



the war, when she nearly succeeded in escaping into the gulf 
with a valuable cargo of cotton. The telegraph, however, was 
swifter than she, and our vessels overhauled her below New 
Orleans, when her crew ran her ashore and set her on fire. 

Farragut, hearing of the loss of the Queen of the West and 
Indianola, determined to run the batteries at Port Hudson, 
and if possible recapture them before they could be repaired, 
and take up a position under the batteries at Vicksburg or 
Port Hudson. After a hard an^ most gallant fight with the 
batteries, in which he sustained severe loss, he succeeded in 
getting by with the Hartford and Albatross. When he arrived 
at the wreck of the Indianola, he learned that the dummy 
had done the work for him, and he procpeded on up to the 
lower batteries of Vicksburg. He communicated with the 
squadron above, requesting that a ram be sent him, so that he 
would be prepared for the Queen of the West and Welsh, 
should they venture out to attack him. Porter was absent on 
the Deer Creek expedition, and there was some hesitancy 
about compl3'ing with Farragut's request. Gen. Ellet, how- 
ever, concluded to send the rams Switzerland and Lancaster 
below, though neither vessel was fit to make the venture. The 
former got through considerably damaged, while the other was 
so completely riddled that she sunk within range of the 
enemy's guns. Her crew were compelled to make her escape 
on cotton bales. 

With this force Farragut blockaded the river between Vicks- 
burg and Port Hudson effectively, and it was never again in 
possession of the enemy. Vicksburg being thus completely cut 
off from her main depot of supplies, was greatly weakened, and 
the event of Grant's success in the reduction of the [)lace, was 
now only a question of time. 

To show the extraordinary character of some of the work 
done by the gun boats, it is only necessary to give a brief de- 
scription of what is known as the Steel's Bayou or Deer Creek 
expedition, which was made under the personal direction of 
Admiral Porter, when untiring energy, indifference to all kinds 
of danger, and wonderful resources of genius would have made 
it successful, if it had been possible to succaed. While this 
remarkable expedition was being made,'another by way of the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 103 



Yazeo Pass (as already related) was making almost identically 
the same history. 

The ironclads Louisville, Carondolet, Mound City, Cincin- 
nati, Pittsburg, two mortar boats and four tugs, were selected 
for the expedition. Sherman was to accom])any the boats 
with 10,000 men. Grant had gone with Porter on a tug some 
miles in the direction the expedition would take, and was 
hopeful that it might succeed, and Porter admits that he was 
quite confident that he would be throwing shells into Vicks- 
burg from the rear within a week. The rains had swollen the 
Mississippi and Yazoo to an unprecedented hight, and the 
back water had converted the country into a vast sea, studded 
with trees. The average depth of the water was seventeen feet. 
Great forests had become channels, and whenever open places 
were found, the vessels could run at good speed. Into this 
forest sea the fleet plunged, and for many miles enjoyed 
most novel and com.fortable sailing. The animals of the forest 
that could climb had taken refuge in the immense trees as 
their only ark of safety, coons, wild cats, mice and reptiles 
were every where seen clinging to the limbs overhead, and look- 
ing down in apparent wonder and alarm, at the singular in- 
trusion. Porter says : "It was a curious sight to see a line of 
iron clads pushing their way through the long, wide lanes in 
the woods without touching on either side, though occasionally 
a rude tree would throw its briarean arms around the smoke 
stacks of an iron clad or transport, and knock them out of 
perpendicular. It looked as if the world had suddenly turned 
tops3'-turvy. The situation was so wild and unnatural that I 
would not have been surprised to have seen a rebel ram lurk- 
ing somewhere in the bushes ready to spring upon us ; or if 
one had suddenly slid down a tree and attacked us, it would 
hardly have added to the novelty of the experience." 

The fleet had gone perhaps ten miles when it came to a 
forest of very large trees — old monarchs of the woods — whose 
branches was so dense that a ray of the sun rarely penetrated 
them. Here the line of battle was broken. The boats could 
not squeeze through the trees, and, as a last resort, the experi- 
ment of ramming them down with the heavy iron clads was 
tried, and proved successful. In the thoroughly soaked earth 
the roots gave way, and the boats butted their way through. 



104 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Sherman disembarked his troops on the banks of Cypress 
Bayou, and gave the pleasing assurance to Porter that the 
"boats would have a d — I of a time getting through," the force 
of which remark was fully>realized ere long. This bayou was 
a kind of canal between the Big Sunflower and the Yazoo, en- 
tering into the latter not far from Haine's Bluff. On one side 
was a high levee protecting finely improved plantations; on 
the other side was a vast overflow. There was about nine feet 
of water in the ditch, and the wide ironclads nearly touched 
each side, Sherman was to follow along the levee, and find no 
fault with the gunboats if they failed to keep step. But some- 
how the boats got ahead — kind o' fell out of ranks as it were — 
and came near being bagged for their want of discipline. A 
few miles on, several hundred bales of cotton were found piled 
along the levee. Suddenly they burst into a blaze, and men 
were seen sneaking from pile to ])ile with torches setting them 
on fire. A truthful contraband informed Pc^rter that it would 
require two days for the cotton to V)urn U]). Rather than 
wait he gave orders to keep the exposed side of the vessels wet 
down with hose, and go ahead fast. It was a red-hot under- 
taking, but the vessels got through slightly scorched and a 
few men blistered. The darkies lining the bank looked on in 
utter amazement, but when the advance ironclad crashed 
through a bridge spanning the ditch, as if it had been made of 
straw, then exclaimed in concert: "De good Lo'd, what will 
dem Linkum gunboats do nex ! !" 

Two more bridges v^ere butted down, when the Cincinnati 
became entangled in a {jatch of small willows, which bound 
her as firmly as the Lilliputians licld Clulliver. B}^ cutting 
under water with jack-knives, and by backing and push- 
ing the boats got through, only to meet yet other and not less 
insurmountable obstructions. The ditch got narrower, and 
the large trees that lined the banks were so near together, that 
men had to hew down the sides of many of them to allow the 
boats to squeeze through. Dead limbs would fall down on the 
skylights and small boats, making a wreck of all. Sometimes 
rats, mice, squirrels, lizzards and snakes would fall u{)on the 
decks, or upon the head of some luckless sailor, who was try- 
ing to keep the decks clear, and dodge the falling timbers at 



THOS. H. BARTON. 105 



the same time. An old gray coon fell upon the deck, and al- 
though stunned by the fall, recovered himself, and fought his 
way overboard. The boats made eight miles that day, and 
when they tied up, Sherman was nowhere in sight. Things 
looked rather discouraging. Pirouetting through the woods 
with iron clads, tugs and mortar boats, while rich in novelty, 
was notthekindof cruising Jack Tar would fall in love with. In 
fact it had already grown tedious and depressing. The boats 
tied up for the night, and Porter hoped that Sherman would 
certainly come by daylight. The darkies who were standing 
about, at sundown, mysteriously and suddenly disappeared. 
Faint strokes of axes were heard in the dim distance. All was 
suggestive, and a tug was sent ahead to reconnoitre. She soon 
discovered that the enemy was "on to the gunboat racket," 
and had rounded up the darkies, and with pistols and guns to 
their heads was forcing them to ply the ax in felling trees into 
and across the ditch. A few shells from a twelve pound 
howitzer dispersed the chopi)ers, and the tug returned to re- 
port. The iron clads moved ahead by the light of lanterns, 
carried by men on the banks. In the morning it was discover- 
ed that Rolling Fork was not far off, and though Porter felt 
uneasy because of Sherman's tardiness, he concluded to enter 
the Rolling Fork in the hope of finding more sea room. The 
iron clads pushed ahead, and were again bound fast by mil- 
lions of little willows that seemed to have sprung up in the 
interest of the Southern Confederacy. While cutting and 
slashing at these provokingly tough little withes, the enemy, 
hidden from our view by the dense undergrowth, suddenly 
opened on the boats with a rifled battery. Sunken down be- 
tween the banks of the ditch, the guns of the iron clads were 
utterly useless. Our only defense was the clumsy mortar. 
Taking the distance by sound, the mortarboats were able to 
drop a few thirteen inch shells among the enemy with surprising 
effect. He was silenced for the time being. It was now pain- 
fully apparent that Sherman was needed by the gunboats. 

A darkle who called himselt a telegraph, agreed to take a 
message back to Sherman for fifty cents. He tucked the folded 
me=«sage into a pocket of his thick "calabash kiver," and darted 
off. Soon after a steamboat came up the Rolling Fork and 



106 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



landed below, and as nearly as could be made out, was landing 
troops, evident!}^ from Vicksburg. A battery of Whitwcfrth 
guns soon opened on us with shells, which burst over the boats 
but did no harm so long as the men kept between decks. But 
somebody had to get out and cut the willows. The mortar 
boats were again brought into play, and succeeding in silenc- 
ing the enemy's guns. But he was no sooner silenced in one 
place than he would open fire from a new position. It was 
getting decidedl}'- uncomfortable for the navy. A tug went 
back to hurry Sherman up, but was headed off by the enemy 
in the rear. Learning this, Porter ordered a retreat. But how 
could the boats run backward when they could hardly run 
forward? The rudders were unshipped, and after much trouble, 
a backward movement, in the true sense of the term, was be- 
gun. After a while, the iron clads could use their guns, and 
the enemy was made to realize the difference between a twelve 
pound sliell and a hundred ])0und shrapnell. Thus the 
strangest of all fights raged until dark. No attack was made 
on the boats during the night, but next morning, when the 
enemy seemed about to make another charge, it was noticed 
that he made a most sudden and inexplicable retreat toward 
the Rolling Fork. This was soon explained by one of Sher- 
man's officers riding up, and saying that he guessed the army 
had come up just about the right time. 

When Sherman came up on an old white horse his boys had 
captured, he hailed the admiral and said: "Why the deuce 
did you get into such an ugly scrape? So much for you 
navy fellows getting out of your element. This is the most 
infernnl expedition 1 was ever on." He continued : "Who in 
thunder proposed such a mad scheme? Your gun boats 
look sick — like half picked geese — but I am ready to go with 
you anywhere." Porter said that he'd had enough of bush- 
whacking, and proposed hunting a deeper and more open sea. 
Besides, it was reasonable to sup{)ose that an enem}' as wary 
as the rebels had {)roved themselves to be, would make an 
effort to dam up the mouth of the bayou with cotton, and 
leave the boats literally wallowing in the mud, or would blow 
them up with torpedoes. -So the boats got out of there as fast 
as they could bump along. The soldiers, as they marched 



THOS. H. BARTON. 107 



along, jibed the sailors with such remarks as : "Jack, you'd 
better stick to the briny !" ''How do you like playing turtle, 
anyway?" "Better let bush-whacking out to old Tecump's 
boys." 

The boats, in a sadly used up condition, finally got out and 
returned to anchorage above Vicksburg, where they were 
speedily put in repair. 

The other expedition through Yazoo Pass, as already re- 
lated, returned in much the same condition, neither having 
accomplished more than to show the enemy and the country 
that Grants army and Porter's squadron were bound in some 
way or other to secure possession of the Confederate strong- 
hold. Grant and Porter shared the opinion ot President Lin- 
coln, as the latter had expressed it, that "Vicksburg was the 
backbone of the rebellion, and the key to the situation," and 
they were determined that this important point should be 
taken. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE CAMPAIGN OF VICKSBURG. — CONTINUED. 

The Deer Creek expedition was the fourth attempt to get in 
the rear of Vicksburg. As I have already related in the pre- 
ceding chapter, it ended in failure. The original canal 
scheme was abandoned on the 27th of March. The effort to 
make a water-way through Lake Providence and the connect- 
ing bayous was also abandoned as wholly impracticable about 
the same time. 

As early as the 4th of February, Grant had written to Gen- 
eral Halleck concerning the advisability of opening a water 
course from Youngs Point or Milikin's Bend by the way of 
Richmond, Louisiana, to New Carthage, twenty-five or thirty 
miles above Grand Gulf. At Youngs Point and also at Mili- 
ken's Bend, channels or bayous start, which enter into other 
bayous, which in turn flow into the Mississippi at New Carth- 
age. Before the levee was constructed, these qhannels were 
much larger than at present, but after the water from the river 
was shut off, they had grown up with a dense growth of tim- 



108 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



ber, wliich had to be removed before letting in the water from 
the river. Grant, with his usual untiring energy, commenced 
opening this passage, and the work was prosecuted with great 
vigor. The work was continued until the water of the river 
began to recede, and the road to Richmond, Louisiana, 
emerged from the water. The levee at the head of the chan- 
nel was then cut, and a small steamer and a few transports 
passed through. But the waters of the Mississippi continued 
to fall very rapidly, and this scheme, as well as the others, 
proved worthless and had to be abandoned. 

While engaged in these arduous labors, and while endeavor- 
ing to obtjiin a foot-hold on the Vicksburg side of the river, 
Grant was visited by some "distinguished " citizens from the 
northern states, who did all that lay in their power to induce him 
to divulge his plans. But the Silent Man kept his own counsel. 
Some of the northern newspapers accused him of being dilatory, 
and incompetent to command a large army. Some of them 
clamored for his removal, and even went so far as to name his 
successor. Among those mentioned were Hunter, McClellan, 
McClernand and Fremont. Numbers of these newspapers were 
sent south and circulated among the troops of Grant's com- 
mand. 

Under the constitution, the President, in time of war, is 

Commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and is responsible 

for the selection of commanders. With all the pressure brought 

to bear upon them, both President Lincoln and General Hal- 

leck stood by Grant till tlie end of the campaign. 

* * * -A- y." * * 

Al)out the middle of April, Grant commenced concentrating 
his troops at Milikeu's Bend nud Young's Point, preparator}'^ 
to moving his army below Vicksburg, which move was to 
crown his long, tedious and discouraging labors with success. 
He did not communicate his plans to any of his officers, till 
ready for the contemplated move. Admiral Porter, who was 
the first officer to whom Grant divulged his scheme, was in 
command of the Mississippi Flotilla, and his co-operation was 
necessary to the success of the proposed undertaking. The 
army, except Sherman's corps, was to move down the river to 
New Carthage, and Porter, with the gun boats as a convey for 



THOS. H. BARTON. 109 



the transports, was to run the batteries at Vicksburg, proceed 
down the river, attack the enemy at Grand Gulf, and, if possi- 
ble, silence their guns, so that the army could safely cross 
over ; while Sherman, with the fifteenth army corps, was to 
make a demonstration ag;iinst Haine's Bluff, divert the atten- 
tion of the enemy, and prevent him from sending re-inforce- 
ments to Grand Gulf. 

On the 16th, Porter was ready to start on his perilous ex- 
pedition. He had his vessels well protected with bales of cot- 
ton, hay and grain, which would be of use to the army, if safe- 
ly transported past the rebel batteries. On the night of the 
same day at the hour often, his fleet was ready to move. The 
flagship Benton was in advance. Then followed the Layfayette 
with the Price lashed to her side. Next came in succession, 
the Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburg and Carondolet all being 
naval vessels. These were followed by the transports, Forrest 
Queen, Silver Wave, and Henry Clay, each one towing barges 
loaded with coal. The gunboat Tuscumbia brought up the rear. 
A terrific cannonade was opened on the fleet, as soon as it was 
discovered by the enemy, to which Porter replied, and thunder 
answered thunder from land and water. The rebels had antic- 
ipated this movement, and had collected a vast amount of 
combustible material, which was set on fire, making a huge 
bonfire. Some buildings on the Louisiana side of the river 
were also set on fire, thereby lighting up the heavens with a lurid 
glare, and making the broad bosom of the river as bright as 
day. Two heavy shots struck the Forrest Queen, and she be- 
came unmanagable, and was taken in tow by a gunboat. "The 
Henry Clay was struck by a shell, whieh set her barricade of 
cotton bales on fire, and she soon flamed back to the beacon 
lights on the shore. Blazing like a mighty torch, she sent her 
jets of flame, capped with angry wreaths of black curling 
smoke far up into the midnight heavens." The crew escaped 
into their boats, and took refuge on the Louisiana shore. The 
Silver Wave passed through unharmed, and she was the only 
one of the transports that got through without any damage. 
The gunboats received no injury worth mentioning. One man 
was killed and two \^ounded. 

On the 22d, six steamers towing twelve barges loaded with 



110 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



army supplies, ran the batteries, with the loss of one boat, the 
others being more or less disabled. About half the barges got 
through safely. Volunteers were called for to man the boats, 
and more presented themselves than was necessary, and the 
choice had to be decided by lot. So eager were they to join 
in the desperate undertaking, that a boy, who had drawn a 
successful number, was offered one hundred dollars by a 
soldier for his chance ; but the spirited little fellow refused the 
oflPer, and he passed through this terrible gauntlet uninjured. 

While Grant was thus concentrating his troops, and bring- 
ing down his gunboats and transports, with a view of forcing 
the Mississippi at Grand Gulf, Col. Grierson, by his orders, 
was making a cavalry raid with three regiments 1,700 strong, 
and a battery of artillery. He left LaGrange, Tennessee, on 
the 17th of April, riding in the rear of all the Confederate forces 
opposing Grant down to Batton Rouge, destroying the rail- 
roads, burning depots, cars, bridges and large quantities of 
military supplies. He sent out detachments right and left to 
destroy telegraphs, magazines and manufactories. In sixteen 
days he traveled no less than 600 miles, and during ihe last 
thirty hours marched eighty miles, fought two skirmishes, de- 
stroyed a Confederate camp, and captured several prisoners. 
They were so completely worn out that, on reaching Batton 
Rouge, three fourths of the men are said to have been asleep 
in their saddles. They succeeded, for the time being, in effec- 
tually cutting the communiciations of Vicksburg with the 
east. 

On the 29th of March, Grant ordered McClernand, with his 
corps of four divisions, to march by way of Richmond, Louis- 
iana to New Carthage, hoping that he might capture Grand 
Gulf before the balance of the army could get there. But the 
roads were mirey, and in such a bad condition, that he made 
slow progess, being compelled to construct corduroy roads 
over the swamps, and bridges across the bayous. Four bridges 
had to be built across bayous, two of them over six hundred 
feet long, making in all about two thousand feet of bridging. 
He reached New Carthage on the 6th of April, with one divi- 
sion of his artillery, but found the place surrounded with water, 
in consequence of the levee to Bayou Vidal being cut or broken 



THOS. H. BARTON. Ill 



in several places. He then continued his march to Perkin's 
Plantation, about ten miles further down the river. On the 
17th, Grant visited New Carthage in person. On the next, or 
the following day, he returned to Miliken's Bend, and, on the 
20th, issued his final order for the movement of the arm3^ 

The Thirteenth arm}' corps, commanded by Major-General 
John A. McClernand, constituted the left wing. The Fifteenth 
army corps, Major-General W. T. .":>herman commanding, con- 
stituted the right wing; and the Seventeenth army corps, com- 
manded b}' Major-General James B. McPherson, constituted 
the center. The order of march to New Madrid was from right 
to left. The troops were required to bivouac, until proper 
facilities could be afforded for the transportation of camp 
equipage. One tent was allowed to each company for the pro- 
tection of rations from rain ; and one wall tent for each regi- 
mental, brigade and division headquarters. General hospitals 
for all sick and wounded soldiers were established between 
Duckport and Miliken's Bend. Transportation was provided 
for ten days' suppl}^ of rations, and commanders were authoriz- 
ed to collect all beef cattle, corn or other necessary supplies on 
the line of march"; but the wonton destruction of property, the 
taking of articles useless for military purposes, and the search- 
ing of houses without proper authority, were positively pro- 
hibited. 

On the 24th, Grant's headquarters were with the ad- 
vance at Perkins' plantation. A reconnoisance was made with 
small boats, in order to find a suitable landing above Grand 
Gulf, but none was found practicable. The army then ad- 
vanced to Hard Times, twenty miles further down the river, 
and nearly opposite Grand Gulf, which is about seventy-five 
milles below Miliken's Bend. McClernand reached Hard 
Times on the 27th, and he was closely followed by McPherson. 
Grant then determined to make an attempt to effect a landing 
on the opposite side of the river. About 10,000 men of 
McClernand's corps were embarked on transports, with the 
object of taking Grand Gulf by storm, provided the gunboats 
succeeded in silencing the rebel guns. At 8 o.'clock on the 
morning of the 29th, Porter attacked this well defended place 
with eight gunboats, to which the enemy replied with great 



112 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



vigor. The battle continued till half )3ast one in the afternoon 
without silencing any of the Confederate guns. Porter then 
withdrew his fleet, and the enemy ceased firing. The navy 
lost, in this engagement, eighteen killed and sixty-five 
wounded. 

Grand Gulf is equally as defensible upon its front as Vicks- 
burg. It is situated on a high bluff, where the river runs at 
the very foot of it. The place was strongly fortified by the 
enemy, and a front attack was not deemed advisable. Porter 
was thereupon requested to run the batteries with his fleet, and 
take charge of the transports, all of which would be needed 
below. 

There is a bend in the Mississippi River at Grand Gulf 
almost similar in form to the one at Vicksburg. At dusk, 
when concealed from the view of the enem}'^, McClernand dis- 
embarked his command on the Louisiana shore, and under 
cover of darkness the troops marched across the point of land 
unobserved. The gunboats and transports ran the batteries 
successfully, and when morning came, the enemy saw Porter's 
whole fleet three or four miles down the river, and the sbore 
lined with Union soldiers. Grant expected to find a landing 
at Rodney, about nine miles below, but during the night a 
colored man came in who informed him that a good landing 
could be found at Bruinsburg, a few miles above Rodney, from 
which point there is a good road leading to Port Gibson, some 
twelve miles in the interior. The information was found to be 
correct, and the troops were disembarked at Bruinsburg with- 
out opposition. Grant was now on the eastern side of the 
Mississippi. 

On the 27th, Sherman, who was left in the rear at Young's 
Point, was ordered to make a feint on Haines' Bluff, in order 
to distract the attention of the enemy, and prevent him from 
sending reinforcements to Grand Gulf. On the 29th, he, with 
ten regiments of infantry and eight gunboats, landed his 
troops on the old battle ground of the preceeding December, 
and made every possible demonstration. The infantry were 
drawn up in line of battle, and the gunboats thundered on the 
rebel batteries upon the heights. But on the same day that 
Grant crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg, he ordered Sher- 



THOS. H. BARTON. J^g 



men to return as speedily as possible. Sherman immediately 
embarked his troops and steamed down the Yazoo, and his 
advance was soon marching down the Louisiana shore to join 
the main army. 

Grant was now in close proximity to the enemy, with a force 
when concentrated, of about 35,000 men. The Confederates' 
occupied Maine's Bluff, Vicksburg, Grand Gulf and Jackson 
with a force of nearly G0,000 effective troops, Jackson is fifty 
miles east of Vicksburg and is connected with it by a railroad. 
Grant's first problem was to capture Grand Gulf" to use as a 
base for future operations. 

The Union General did not pause to concentrate his army 
like an over-prudent commander would have done, for this 
would have given the Confederates an opportunity to do the 
same thing. His plan was to push out boldly, and beat the 
enemy in detail, before his scattered forces could be brought 
together. Grant stripped his army for the race, and freed it 
of all incumbrance except arms and amunition and a small 
supply of rations. He himself was without tent, blanket, over- 
coat or mess chest. 

The army landed at Bruinsburg on the 30th, and on the 1st 
of May, McClernand advanced into the interior. The bluffs 
were reached an hour before sunset, and McClernand pushed 
on, hoping to reach Port Gibson, and save the bridge spanning 
the Bayou Pierre, before it could be destroyed by the enemy 
Port Gibson was also a strategic point of considerable import- 
ance, It being the starting point of roads leading to Grand 
Gulf, Jackson and Vicksburg. 

McClernand's advance met the enemv at Thompson's plan- 
tation, about five miles west of Port Gibson, and some skirm- 
ishing occurred during the night. The Confederates occupied 
a strong natural position with most of the garrison from Grand 
Gulf, numbering about 8,000 men, under the command of Gen- 
eral Bowen, who hoped to hold his position until reinforced 
by General Loring from Vicksburg; but Loring did not arrive 
in time to render much assistance south of Port Gibson. The 
country in this part of Mississippi is very rough, the roads 
running along the ridges except when they occasionally pass 
from one ridge to another. Near the point selected bv Bowen 



114 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



to defend, the road divides taking two ridges, and again unites 
just outside the town. Here McClernand had to divide his 
force, and it was not only divided, but was also separated by 
a deep ravine between the two ridges, which rendered it diffi- 
cult if not quite impossible, for one flank to reinforce the other 
without marching back to the junction of the roads. The 
divisions of Hovey, Karr and Smith were placed on the right 
flank, and that of Osterhaus on the left. The latter, as he 
advanced, became hard pressed by the enemy and sustained a 
slight rei>ulse. At this critical moment Grant ordered two 
brigades of Logan's division to his assistance, and Osterhaus 
was then ordered to renew his front attack. It was successful 
and unattended by serious loss. Throughout the day, the 
eneifiy was pushed back on the right, and when the shades of 
evening closed in, the troops went into bivouac two miles from 
Port Gibson. 

In iliis engagement the Union loss was one hundred and 
thirty killed, seven hundred and eighteen wounded and five 
missing. We took one thousand prisoners and five pieces of 
artillery, the number of the Confederate killed and wounded 
being unknown. 

Early on the following morning our victorious columns 
marched through Port Gibson, the enemy having retreated in 
the direction of Raymond, burning the bridge which spanned 
the South Fork of the Bayou Pierre, Grant immediately began 
building a bridge across this stream, the work being superin- 
tended by Col. J. N. Wilson, a member of his staff. The bridge 
was completed during the night, and on the morning of the 3d 
of May, the Union forces were in hot pursuit of the retreating 
enemy. On the same day, McClernand marched eight miles 
to the North Fork of Bayou Pierre. 

Meanwhile, McPherson had crossed the Mississippi, reached 
Hankinson's ferry on the Big Black River, seized the ferry 
boat, and sent a detachment of his command across, and 
several miles on the road to Vicksburg. When the junction 
of the road leading to Vicksburg with the road from Grand 
Gulf to Raymond and Jackson was reached, Logan with his 
division was turned to the left towards Grand Gulf. Grant 
now learned that the enemy was in full retreat, and had aban- 
doned his heavy guns and evacuated the place. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 115 



Up to this time it had been Grant's intention to secure 
Grand Gulf, as a base of supplies, and detach McClernand's 
corps to co-operate with Banks in the reduction of Port Hud- 
son. But while at Grand Gulf, he learned that Banks, who 
was on the Red River, could not be at Port Hudson before the 
10th of May, and then with ouly 15,000 men. This informa- 
tion brought about a different plan of campaign from the 
one originally intended. Grant therefore determined to move 
independently of Banks, cut loose from his base, destroy 
the rebel force in rear of Vicksburg, and invest or capture the 
city. 

On the 6th, Sherman crossed the Mississippi with the main 
part of his command, leaving Blair's division as a guard to the 
train, and while he was making rapid marches to join the 
main army. Grant was, at the same time, making demonstra- 
tions as if about to cross the Big Black River, and attack 
Vicksburg on the south. This so confused Pemberton that he 
did not venture to move his army out of Vicksburg to assist 
the rebel forces at Raymond and Jackson. On the 3d, Hurl- 
but, who had been left at Memphis, was ordered to send four 
regiments of his command to Miliken's Bend to relieve Blair's 
division ; and on the 5th he was ordered to send Lauman's 
division in addition, the latter to join the main army in the 
field. 

Up to this time Grant had depended mainly for subsistence 
on the resources of the country, and had pressed into the ser- 
vice vehicles of every discription, even ox-carts and express 
wagons, as a means of transportation. On the 6th, the regular 
train arrived at the front with a supply of hard bread, bacon, 
salt and coffee ; and having his army well in hand, he was now 
prepared to move. 

Intelligence was received that the Confederates were now 
moving north to reinforce Pemberton. Grant knew that while 
he was closing in on the enemy, tbey were also closing in up- 
on him, and that he would soon be between two fires. "With 
the daring of Napoleon, he determined to enact over again that 
great chieftain's famous Italian campaign, when, with 50,000 
men, he attacked in detail and beat an army of a hundred and 
fifty thousand, and killed and wounded, and took prisoners a 



116 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



number equal to his whole force." His success depended on 
rajiid movements and hard fighting ; and having determined 
to cut loose from his base at Grand Gulf, he informed the com- 
mander-in-chief at Washington accordingly. 

During the night of the 6th, McPherson concentrated his 
troops east of the Big Black, and on the following morning, 
moved on the road towards Jackson by way of Rocky Springs, 
Utica and Raymond. That night he and McClernand were 
both at Rocky Springs, ten miles east of Hankinson's ferry. 
On the 8th, McClernand moved to Big Sandy, and Sherman 
marched from Grand Gulf to Hankinson's ferry, while Mc- 
Pherson advanced to a point a few miles west of Utica. The 
10th, Sherman moved to Big Sandy, McPherson to Utica, 
w^hile McClernand was still at Big Sandy. On the 11 th, Mc- 
Clernand was at Five Mile Creek, Sherman at Auburn and 
McPherson advanced five miles from Utica On May 12th, 
both Sherman and McClernand were at Five Mile Creek, and 
McPherson at Raymond, after a battle at Fourteen Mile Creek 
some skirmishing occurred, in which the Union force lost lour 
killed and twenty-four wounded. 

Grant's line was now seven miles south of the Vicksburgand 
Jackson Railroad, and nearly parallel with it. Up to this 
time, his movements had been made without serious opposi- 
tion. On the 12th, McClernand's pickets were within two 
miles of Edward's Station, where the enemy had concentrated 
a considerable force, under the command of General Gregg, of 
Texas, and he evidently expected the Union army to make an 
attack, McClernand, however withdrew his advance without 
an engagement. McPherson encountered the enemy, 5,000 
strong, supported by two batteries, about two miles from Ray- 
mond. This was about two in the afternoon. Logan's divi- 
sion was in advance, and the Second Ohio Bridade was order- 
ed to move towards the heavy timber, which concealed the 
enemy, who opened upon them a destructive fire. The first 
and third brigades, under Smith and Dennis, were ordered for- 
ward in support, but could not dislodge the enemy, and were 
compelled to give ground when the artillery opened upon 
them. This was rej)lied to by the Eighth Michigan battery. 
The Confederates then made an attempt to capture this bat- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 117 



tery, but were repuked with heavy loss, and fell back to a posi- 
tion in the rear of Farnden's Creek. The brigades of Smith 
and Dennis renewed the attack, but were outflanked by the 
enemy, and a desperate struggle ensued in which the Union 
loss was heavy, the 20th Ohio, and 23d Indiana suffering 
severely. The enemy was now gaining ground, when McPher- 
son ordered the road in the rear to be cleared of wagons, and 
the balance of Logan's division and Crocker's, which was still 
in the rear, to move forward with dispatch. The order was 
obeyed with alacrit3^ The opportune arrival of Stevenson's 
brigade restored the battle, and, ere Crocker could get his com- 
mand in position, the Confederates were routed and driven 
from the field. 

In this engagement McPherson lost ()6 killed, 339 wounded, 
and 37 missing — nearly all of which were from Logan's divi- 
sion. The enemy's loss was 100 killed, 305 wounded, and 415 
were taken prisoners. 

Pemberton was now on Grant's left with a force of nearly 
50,000 men, and a force was also collected on his right at 
Jackson, the point where all the railroads communicating with 
Vicksburg connect, and it was also the depot for the supply of 
men and stores for the Confederate army at Vicksburg. Grant 
now determined to move rapidly towards Jackson, and destroy 
or drive away any force in that direction, and then turn on 
Pemberton. On the 13th, McPherson marched to Clinton, 
fifteen miles west of Jackson, and destroyed the railroad and 
telegraph, while Sherman, with the exception of Blair's divi- 
sion, which was still in the rear, moved to Raymond. Tbe 
divisions of McClernand'a command followed Sherman, one 
division being left on the Big Black to watch Pemberton. On 
the same day. General Joseph E. Johnston arrived at Jackson 
from Tennessee, and assumed command of all the rebel forces 
in that part of Mississippi. 

There are two roads leading from Raymond to Jackson. The 
northern road leads past Clinton, and the direct, or southern 
one, by the wa}' of Mississippi Springs. Early on the morn- 
ing of the 14th, McPherson and Sherman were on the march, 
latter taking the direct route past Mississippi Springs, and these 
generals arranged to reach Jackson at the same hour. I\[c- 



118 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



demand's corps was divided. One division moved to Clinton 
in order to reinforce McPherson ; one to Mississippi Springs to 
reinforce Sherman, if it should be necessary |to do so, while 
the third moved to Raymond within supporting distance of 
either wing of the army. 

Grant had notified Halleck that he intended to attack the 
State capitol on the 14th. A courier carried the dispatch to 
Grand Gulf through an unprotected country. 

During the preceding night Johnston had been reinforced 
by Georgia and South Carolina regiments, and his force 
amounted to about 11,000 men, and more were expected. The 
rain had fallen in torrents, and the roads were in a mire}'' con- 
dition. This, however, did not discourage the troops. About 
nine in the forenoon, Crocker, of McPherson's corps, who was 
in advance, came upon the enemy's pickets, and speedily 
drove them in upon the main, body. They proved to be the 
troops under Gregg, who had been driven out of Raymond. 
Crocker advanced the brigades of Holmes and Sanborn, 
preceded by a strong skirmish line, and drove the enemy 
back upon high ground, about two miles from the city. Mc- 
Pherson followed with the rest of his command, till within 
reach of the enemy's guns, when he halted, made a reconnoi- 
sance. and formed his line of battle. While these moves were 
being made, Sherman also came upon the rebel pickets some 
distance out of the town, and speedily drove them in. He 
was confronted by a Confederate batter3^ which enfiladed the 
road and commanded a bridge spanning a stream over 
which he had to pass. The stream was forced, and the enemy 
Hanked and driven within the main line. Grant, who was with 
' Sherman, thereupon directed him to send a force to the right, 
and to reconnoiter as far as Pearl River. This movement, to- 
gether with McPherson's pressure, no doubt led Johnson to 
order a retreat, leaving only the men at the guns to retard the 
Union advance while he was getting away. 

Grant's loss in this engagement was 41 killed and 249 
wounded. The enemy's losses were 845 killed, wounded and 
captured, and seventeen pieces of artillery. The Confederates 
also set fire to their magazines, containing a large amount of 
commissary stores. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 119 



Grant entered the capital of Mississippi with the head of 
the army, and rode immediately to the state house, where he 
was soon followed by Sherman. The troops patrolled the 
streets, collecting the prisoners at the capitol building. Grant 
and Sherman went together into a manufactory where tent- 
cloth, with " C. S. A." woven in each bolt, was being manu- 
factured. Their presence did not seem to attract the attention 
of either the manager or operatives, most of whom were girls. 
Finally Grant told Sherman that he thought the;' had done 
work enough, and the operatives were then informed that they 
could leave, and take with them all the cloth they could carry 
away. The torch was then applied to the building, which, to- 
gether with an immense amount of cotton in bales, stacked 
outside, was destroyed. About four in the afternoon Grant 
sent fur the corps commanders and directed the disposition to 
be made of their troops. Sherman was to remain in Jackson 
long enough to destroy everything that would be of value to 
the enem}^ and break up the place as a railroad center and 
manufacturing city of military supplies. This work was 
thoroughly accomplished. Grant slept that night in the room 
that Johnston is said to have occupied the night before. 

General Johnston was probably the ablest officer in the Con- 
federate service, and he fully recognized the military genius 
and formidable character of his antagonist, and that Pember- 
ton, though animated with the best intentions, was wholly in- 
adequate to the occasion. On the night of the 13th he sent a 
dispatch to. Pemberton, at Edward's Station, ordering him to 
establish communication, that he might be reinforced, and to 
come up at once, in the rear of Grant, with all the available 
troops that could be assembled. This dispatch was sent in 
triplicate, by different messengers, but one of them was a man 
who had been ostensibly drummed out of Memphis by Hurll)ut 
as a spy, but who was in fact a spy, and he delivered his copy of 
Johnston's dispatch to McPherson, who forwarded it to Grant. 
With characteristic promptness, Grant ordered McPherson to 
move early in the morning back to. Bolton, about twenty miles 
west of Jackson, and the nearest point where Johnston would 
reach the road and reinforce Pemberton. He also informed 
McClernand of the capture of Jackson, and ordered him to 



120 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



turn his forces toward Bolton Station, and make all dispatch 
in getting there. To Blair he gave the same order. 

Pemberton expected, by a movement towards Raymond, to 
cut Grant's line of communication, wlien in fact Grant had 
cut it himself; his men were carrying their supplies with them, 
and were hastening with no uncertain ste}is to form a new 
base on the Yazoo. . On the 15th, Pemberton left Edwards 
Station for Raymond, while at the same time Grant was mak- 
ing forced marches westward. The Confederate general, when 
too late, saw his mistake, and was compelled to order a back- 
ward movement, and indeed, to attempt to cross Grant's front 
in order to unite with Johnston. He was caught in the act of 
so doing, and was thus compelled to fight the battle of Cham- 
pion's Hill, and had to fight it alone. 

About five o'clock on the morning of the 16th, Grant learned 
from two railroad employes who had passed through Pember- 
ton's army in the night, that it consisted of about 25,000 men 
and ten batteries of. artillery. He also learned its position. 
Up to this time it had been his intention to leave Sherman at 
Jackson another day, in order to complete his work; but on 
receiving this intelligence Grant sent him an order to move 
rapidly to Bolton, and to put one division, with an ammunition 
train, on the road at once. Within an hour after receiving this 
order, Steel's division was on the mjirch. 

The Confederate position at Champion's Hill was well 
chosen. Gen. Grant says : " Champion's Hill, where Pember- 
ton had chosen his position to receive us, whether taken by 
accident or design, was well selected. It is one of the highest 
points in that section, and commanded all the ground in range. 
On the east side of the ridge, which is quite precipitous, is a 
ravine running first north, then westerly, terminating at Ba- 
ker's Creek. It was grown up thickly with large trees and 
undergrowth, making it difficult to penetrate with troo])s, even 
when not defended. The ridge occupied by the enemy termin- 
ated abruptly where the ravine turns westerly. The left of 
the enemy occupied the north end of the ridge. The Bolton 
and Edwards Station wagon road turns almost due south at 
this point, and ascends the ridge, which it follows for about a 
mile ; then turning west, descends by a gentle declivity to 



THOS. H. BARTON. 121 



Baker's Creek, nearly a mile away. On the west side, the 
slope of the ridge is gradual, and is cultivated from near the 
summit tO the Creek. There was, when we were there, a nar- 
row belt of timber near the summit west of the road." 

From Raymond there is a direct road to Edwards Station 
some three miles west of Champion's Hill, and there is also 
one to Bolton. From this latter road there is still another, 
which leaves it about three and a half miles before reaching 
Bolton, and leads direct to the same station. Pemberton's 
lines covered all these roads and faced east. Hovey's line, 
when it first drove in the Confederate pickets, was formed 
parallel to that of the enemy, and confronted his left. At an 
early hour Grant reached the crossing of the Jackson railroad 
with the road from Raymond to Bolton, and there found Mc- 
Pherson's advance and his pioneer corps engaged in rebuilding 
a bridge. The train of Hovey's division was blocking up the 
road ; he ordered it aside and pushed the troops through. 
Passing to the front, he found Hovey's division getting into 
line, and nearly ready for battle. Grant did not wish the en- 
gagement to begin before he could hear from McClernand, to 
whom he sent messages to press forward rapidly. Firing, 
however, commenced, and by eleven o'clock it increased 
to the dignity of a battle. For some time Hovey's division 
bore the brunt of the conflict ; and about noon he made a 
charge and captured a battery, but being hard pressed, was 
compelled to abandon it. The enemy proving too strong, 
that division had to be reinforced. Meantime, Logan's divi- 
sion was working to the enemy's left and rear, and greatly 
weakening his resistance on the front. Grant had no fear for the 
issue, for he knew that he would soon be reinforced by McCler- 
nand. Up to this time his position had been with liovey, 
who was the mot:^t heavily pressed ; but about noon he moved 
with a part of his staff around by the right, until he came up 
with Logan, who was now in the Confederate rear, and near 
the road leading down to Bakers Creek. But neither Grant 
nor Logan knew that they had cut off the retreat of the enemy. 
Just at this important juncture a messenger came from Hovey, 
asking for more reinforcements. None could be spared. An 
order was then given to move McPherson's command by the left 

16 



122 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



flank around to Hovey. This movement uncovered the rebel 
line of retreat, which was soon taken advantage of by the 
Confederates, who fled precipitately. 

The battle of Champion's Hill lasted about four hours hard 
fighting, preceded by two or three hours of severe skirmishing, 
and was fought mainly by Hovey's division of McClernand's 
corps. Grant had in this battle about 15,C00 men actually en- 
gaged. His losses were 410 killed, 1,844 wounded, and 187 
missing. Hovey alone lost 1,200 killed, wounded and miss- 
ing — more than one-third of his division. The Confederate 
losses in killed and wounded were over 3,000, and about the 
same number were captured in battle and in pursuit. A large 
amount of war material was abandoned by the enemy, and 
picked up on the field, among it thirty pieces of artillery. 
Among the Conlederate killed was General Tilghman, who had 
formerly defended Fort Henry. He was struck by a fragrant 
of a shell, and died almost instantly. Had McClernand come 
up with reasonable promptness, or had Grant known the 
ground as he afterwards did, liis success might have been 
even greater, As it was, Loring's division was cut off from the 
main army, and failed to reach Vicksburg. 

The pursuit continued as long as it was light enought to see 
the road. The night of the 16th of May, found McClernand's 
command bivouaced from two to six miles west of the battle 
field, along the line of the road to Vicksburg. On the morn- 
ing of the 17th, the pursuit was continued, with McClernand's 
corps in advance. Sherman, who was at Bolton, was ordered 
to turn north to Bridgeport. The Confederates were found 
strongly posted on both sides of the Big Black River. This 
stream, on its \v;iy to the Mississippi, runs due south, after 
leaving Bridi^eport, until it ai)i)roaches Champion's Hill, when 
it bends vvestwardly for a few mil^s, and then renews it south- 
erly course. The direct road to Vicksburg crosKes the stream 
after it resumes its southerly course. The Confederates in- 
trenched themselves on the east bank of the river, hoping to 
hold it until their material should have crossed, and they oc- 
cu})ied a strong position when McClernand's advance came 
up with them. At ten o'clock Carr's division assaulted the 
works, and carried them with little resistance, capturing eigh- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 123 



teen guns and 1,751 prisoners, comprising Green's Missouri 
Brigade, and that of General Vaughn. The Federal losses 
were 39 killed, 237 wounded and three missing— General Oster- 
haus being among the wounded. Meantime, the main body of 
the enemy had crossed, and planted batteries so as to com- 
mand the bridge, which was then destroyed, It was now 
about nine o'clock. Orders were given for the construction of 
three bridges, as soon as the work could be commenced. Lum- 
ber was taken from buildings, cotton gins and whatever could 
be found for this purpose. One bridge was constructed from 
felled trees, their tops interlacing in the river without being 
entirely severed from their stumps. By nine o'clock on the 
morning of the 18th, all the bridges were completed, and the 
troops crossed over. 

While Grant was making his dispositions for an assault on 
the Confederate works, he was approached by an officer from 
Bank's staff, who presented him with a letter irom General 
Halleck, dated the 11th of May. It had been sent by way of 
New Orleans to Bank's to be forwarded to Grant. It ordered 
him to return to Grand Gulf and co-operate from there with 
Banks against Port Hudson, and then with their combined 
forces proceed to invest Vicksburg, Grant informed the officer 
that the order came too late, and that Halleck would not give 
it now if he knew the situation. The bearer of the dispatch, 
however, insisted that the order ought to be obeyed, and was 
giving arguments in support of his views, when loud cheering 
was heard on the right. Lawler, of Carr's division, was in his 
shirt sleeves, and leading a charge against the enemy. Grant 
immediately mounted his horse and rode in the direction of 
the charge, and saw no more of the officer who delivered the 
order. There can be no doubt that had Grant obeyed this 
order, the seige of Vicksburg would have lasted several months 
longer than it did. No commander can successfully conduct 
a campaign at the distance of a thousand miles from the field 
of operations. 

Sherman, who had paroled the prisoners taken at Jackson, 
and left his sick and wounded in the care of competent sur- 
geons, reached Raymond about noon on the 17th where he 
found Blair with a pontoon train in readiness, A few of the 



124 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



enemy were intrenched on the opposite bank, but during the 
night and early morning a crossing was effected, and a small 
number of Confederates taken prisoners. 

Grant's plans were now fast approaching their consumma- 
tion. During the night of the 18th, Peraberton's routed iroops 
fell back within the lines of Vicksburg, and with them also 
entered many planters and their families, who had been living 
near the city. A scene of indescribable confusion prevailed — 
the cries of young children and the lamentations of women 
being mingled with the blasphemous oaths of the soldiers. 
"That night, soon after dark. Grant rode up and had an inter- 
view with Sherman. The two commanders crossed the bridge, 
and seated themselves on a fallen tree, in the light of a pile of 
burning fence-rails, while the eager and swift-marching men 
of ihe 15tli Corps filed by them and disappeared in the dark- 
ness. Grant had marched 200 miles, had fought four battles, 
taken 90 guns, captured 6,000 prisoners — more than all, he had 
cut off Pemberton's escape. He detailed his plans for the next 
day, after which he returned through the forest to his own 
headquarters." 

On the following morning, when Sherman's troops were 
within three and a half miles of Vicksburg, that general turn- 
ed to the right in order to get possession of the Walnut Hills 
on the Yazoo River. He obtained this position before night, 
and communications were thus opened with Porter, who was 
on the Yazoo, and the new base of supplies was secured. Mc- 
Pherson followed Sherman, nnd halted where that general 
turned off. McClernand cam(^ up by the Jackson road, filing 
to his left at Mount Alban's. By these dispositions the three 
army corps (iotnpleted the investment of Vicksburg on the 
morning of the IDth. Sherman was or. the right, overlooking 
the Yazoo River; McPherson cov< red the enemy's centre, while 
McClernand covered their left, his left flank resting close to 
the Mississippi, a few miles above Warrenton. General Pem- 
berton, on retiring within his works, felt himself unable to de- 
fend as long a line as the highths from Vicksburg to Haines' 
Bluff, and evacuated the latter place before Sherman's arrival. 

Johntson had feared for the worse. As soon as he learned of 
Pemberton's defeat at Champion's Hill, he sent him the fol- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 125 



lowing dispatch : "If Haines' Bluff be untenable, Vicksburg 
is of no value ; it cannot be held. If you are invested in it you 
must ultimately surrender. Instead of losing both troops 
and place, you must, if possible, save the troops. If not too 
late, evacuate Vicksburg and its dependencies forthwith, and 
march northeast." But it was too late. The Confederate 
stronghold and the army defending it, were destined to be sur- 
rendered. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF VICKSBURG. — CONCLUDED. 

Vicksburg is admirably situated for defence on the land side, 
the adjacent country being a vast plateau, over which a num- 
ber ot small hills seem to have been sown broadcast, these 
eminences being higher than the city itself. On the northern 
part of this plateau the hills are higher than on the southern. 
The approach to these eminences from the east is intersected 
with deep ravines and gullies, cut by the water ; and in some 
places these ravines were filled with an impenetrable growth 
of canebrakes, while the tops of the ridges were covered with a 
heavy growth of timber. The enemy had his batteries planted 
on a series of redoubts, so that he could sweep his front and en- 
filade every commanding position, and if his outer works were 
carried, he could then fall back to an inner line and still be on 
higher ground. The Confederate line of defence followed the 
crest of the hills from the north of the city eastward, then 
southerly around the Jackson road, about three miles back of 
the city; thence in a southwesterly direction, to the river. 
Deep ravines of the description given, lay in front of these de- 
fences. Grant's line was more than fifteen miles long, extend- 
ing from Haines' Bluff to Vicksburg, thence to Warrenton ; 
that of the enemy about seven. To add to all this, Grant had an 
enemy in the rear at Canton and Jackson, who was constantly 
being reinforced, which required a second line of defence lacing 
the other wav. He did not have a sufficient force to man these 



126 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

works. General Halleck, however, appreciated the situation, 
and forwarded reinforcements as speedily as possible. 

Grant's army commenced crossing the Mississippi at Bruins- 
burg, April 30th. On the 18th of May the army was in the 
rear of Vicksburg, on the I9th, just twenty days after crossing 
the river, the city was completely invested, and an assault was 
about to be made. Five distinct battles, besides almost con- 
tinuous skirmishing, had been fought and won b^^ the Union 
arms. The capitol of Mississippi had been taken, and im- 
mense quantities of military supplies either captured or des- 
troyed ; over 6,000 prisoners, 27 heavy cannon, and 61 field 
pieces had fallen into our hands, and 400 miles of the Missis- 
sippi River rendered free to navigation. Up to this time the 
whole force which crossed the river was less than 43,000 men, 
while the Confederates had at Vicksburg, Grand Gulf and Jack- 
son, and on the line of march between these places, more than 
60,000 available troops. All these troops had to be met. They 
were in their own country, and rear guards were unnecessary. 
But they were met and conquered in detail ; at Port Gibson, 
about 8,000; at Raymond, 5,000; at Jackson, near 11,000; at 
Champion's Hill, 25,000; and at the Big Black River about 
4,000. Up to this time the Federal losses were 695 killed ; 3,425 
wounded, and 259 missing. 

These achievements are among the most brilliant military 

performances in the annals of history, and have cast a halo 

of glory over the commander of the Union armies. 

******* 

The Confederates evacuated their position at Haines' Bluff 
on the 17th. Admiral Porter, speaking of them says : "Such a 
net-work of forts I never saw." Sherman in a letter to Gen- 
eral M. L. Smith, discribes the situation and his own satisfac- 
tion in obtaining possession of it. "As soon as we had fixed 
things in Jackson, I made good time in reaching the very 
point above Vicksburg that wo had worked so hard and thank- 
lessly for last January. It has fulfilled all my expectations, 
and we now have high and commanding ground, and haul our 
stores from our old landing at Chickasaw Bayou. The very 
roads made by the enemy, which enabled him to mass his 
troops so promptly before us, are now ours, and answer an 



THOS. H. BARTON. 127 

f 



admirable purpose. I ride often to the very signal hill from 
which all our movements were telegraphed, and enjoy an in- 
ternal satisfaction, that after five months' patient labor and 
fighting, I can now reciprocate the compliment. We are close 
upon the enemy; our artillery reaches every part of the city, 
which, I am told, has become like a prairie-dog village, all 
burrowed in the earth." 

The Yazoo River was now open, and nothing prevented the 
gunboats passing up that stream. On the 20th, five went up to 
Yazoo City. Here was an extensive yard for the construction 
of war-vessels. The Arkansas was built at this place. The 
Mobile was ready for her plating; the Republic was fitting for 
a ram with armor of railroad iron ; on the stocks there was a 
new steamer 310 feet long and 70 feet beam. She was to be plated 
with four and a half inch iron. These, together with the ma- 
chine shops and other establishments, were destroyed. 
* * * * * . * * 

Early on the morning of the 19th, Grant opened up an artil- 
lery fire at long range, which was feebly responded to by the 
enemy, while, at the same time, heavy skirmishing was kept 
up by the infantry. Osterhaup, who was on the extreme left, 
advanced within about six hundred yards of the rebel position, 
where he found himself confronted by fifteen redoubts, from 
which the artillery opened up a heavy fire on his exposed 
ranks. At two o'clock in the afternoon, Grant ordered a 
general advance on the Confederate intrenchments. Incon- 
sequence of the officer's watches not being set alike, the 
three corps did not advance at the same time. The assault, 
however, resulted in securing more advanced positions for all 
the troops, where they were fully covered from the fire of the 
enemy. 

The 20th, and 21st, were spent in making roads to the Yazoo 
River, and in strengthening the Federal position. A large 
portion of the army had now been for three weeks with only 
five days rations issued by the commissary. Food was abun- 
dant, but the troops began to feel the want of bread. While 
making his rounds on the 21st, a soldier who recognized Grant, 
remarked in a low voice ; "Hard Tack." In a moment the 
cry was taken up all along the line : "Hard Tack ! Hard 



128 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Tack!" The general then informed those nearest him that 
their wants would soon be supplied, when the cry was instant- 
ly changed to cheers. 

Grant now determined on a second assault. Johnston was 
in his rear, only fifty miles away, with an army very nearly 
equal to his own, and the Confederate general was being rein- 
forced. There was danger of his coming to the assistance of 
Pemberton, and either raising the seige, or preventing the cap- 
ture of the garrison. Moreover, the enemy had been much de- 
moralized by his defeats at Champion's Hill and the Big Black, 
and the troops believed that they could carry the works in 
their front, and did not relish the idea of working in trenches, 
unless they were permitted to try. 

The assault was ordered to commence at ten in the forenoon 
of the 22d. Grant ordered the corps commanders to set their 
watches by his, so that they should all move promptly at the 
same moment. He took a position near the center of the front, 
from which he could see all ot McPherson's, a part of feher- 
man's, and McClernand's advancing columns. From the 
whole Union line the artillery opened up a terrific fire, which 
seemed to shake the hills to their foundations, while the infan- 
try sprang forward with a resolute determination to carry the 
intrenchments. On the right, Thayer's brigade of Steel's divi- 
sion was the first to encounter the enemy. Blair's division, to 
the left of Thayer, came up about the same time, and were met 
at every point by overwhelming numbers of unseen foes, with 
nothing in view but volumes of dense and curling smoke. Some 
of the advance regiments reached the parapet at several points, 
and succeeded in planting the stars and stripes on the rebel 
works, but were quickly driven off. McPherson, who was in 
the center, moved his corps up to the intrenchments, and part 
of his advance reached the parapet. Here they were met by 
overwhelming numbers, and were compelled to abandon the 
prize before them. On the left, the divisions of Carr and Oster- 
haus were in the advance. These troops moved forward with 
undaunted courage, and a few succeeded in planting their flags 
on the outer slopes of the bastions, and a desperate struggle 
ensued, but the position was too strong to be taken by assault. 
McClernand now reported that he had gained the enemy's ia- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 129 



trenchments at several points, and wanted reinforcements His 
request was repeated, and Quinby's division of the 17th corps 
was sent to his assistance. Sherman and McPherson were 
ordered to renew their assaults in order to create a diversion 
in favor of McClernand. This last attack only served to in- 
crease the Federal casualities, without resulting in any advan- 
tage. In this engagement Grant lost about 3,000 men, one 
third of them through the renewal of the attack at McCler- 
nand's request. The Confederate loss was more than 1,000. 
Porter aided the assault by keeping up a bombardment 
with his mortar boats, and by sending four gunboats to 
silence both the water and hill batteries. They engaged the 
water batteries at a distance of four hundred yards, but so 
great was the noise and smoke that Porter neither heard nor 
saw anything of the battle that was going on in the rear. After 
four hours hard fighting, Grant fell back, and when night 
came on those troops that had reached the enemy's line and 
been compelled to remain there for security all day, were with- 
drawn, and thus ended the last assault upon Vicksburg. 

McClernand overestimated his advantage in this engage- 
ment. A few weeks afterwards he published a letter of con- 
gratulation, which he caused to be read to his corps, recapit- 
ulating the services they had rendered. This letter was read 
by the soldiers of the other commands, and Sherman and 
McPherson immediately informed Grant of its contents, who 
thereupon dismissed McClernand from the service, and ap- 
pointed General Ord in his stead. 

Pemberton, who felt much elated over the victories of 
the 19th and 22nd, addressed his troops as follows: "You 
have heard that I was incompetent, and a traitor, and that it 
was my intention to sell Vicksburg. Follow me, and you will 
see the cost at which I will sell Vicksburg. When the last 
pound of beef, bacon and flour, the last grain of corn, the last 
cow, and hog, and horse, and dog, shall have been con- 
sumed, and the last man shall have perished in the trenches, 

then, and only then, will I sell Vicksburg." 

******* 

We now approach the last act of the grand drama of the 
campaign of Vicksburg. Immediately after the disasterous 



130 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



repulse of the 22nd, Grant sat down to the tedious operation 
of a siege. In the interval between the assaults of the 19th 
and 22nd, roads were completed from the Yazoo River and 
Chickasaw Ba3'ou, around the rear of the array, in order to 
bring up supplies of food and ammunition. Ground had also 
been selected and cleared, on which the troops were to be en- 
camped, tents and cooking utensils were brought up, and all 
was now ready for the pick and spade. Hurlbut and Prentiss 
were ordered to send forward all the troops that could be 
spared from their commands. A force of cavalry was also 
needed to guard the fords of the Big Black, and to observe, 
Johnston. Bragg was confronting Rosecrans in Tennessee, 
but was sending reinforcements to Johnston, and the Confed- 
erates were making the most strenuous efforts to raise the 
siege, even at the risk of losing ground elsewhere. 

At the beginning of the siege, Grant was deficient in heavy 
siege guns and mortars. Porter sent him a battery of heavy 
naval guns. Some of the engineers took pieces of the tough- 
est timber, bored them out and hooped them firmly with bands 
of iron. They were used for throwing six and twelve pound 
shells into the city. By the latter part of June there were 
about 250 pieces of artillery in position. 

From the commencement. Grant pushed the siege with vigor. 
He immediately began his parallels of approach, and mounted 
his siege guns about 500 or 600 yards from the rebel works. 
As soon as one parallel was completed he advanced his army. 
Every week found his soldiers nearer the doomed city, and in 
in one month's time from the beginning of the siege, he had a 
line of works along his whole front, so close to the enemy that 
the opposing troops could converse with each other, and make 
exchanges of bread for tobacco. 

The besiegers had the great advantage of being sheltered 
from the hot sun by the woods, and many springs of excellent 
water were found in the ravines. Besides the investing line 
on the land side of Vicksburg, extending from Haines' Bluff 
to Warrenton, they had a line of infantry on the other side 
of the Mississippi, across the peninsula which the city over- 
looks ; there were gunboats both above and below, and there 
were in addition six 13-inch mortars and two 200-pound parrot 
guns mounted on rafts. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 131 



At the investment of Vicksburg Grant's army was about 
30,000 strong. General Halleck, when informed of the situa- 
tion, sent him all the reinforcements from other places that 
could be spared. On June 3d a brigade arrived from Hurlbut's 
corps under the command of General Kimbal, and were sent 
to Mechanicsburg, between Haines' Bluff and the Big Black 
River. On the 8th a whole division of Hurlbut's command 
arrived under Gen. Sony Smith, and was at once sent to 
Haines' Bluff, and Gen. C. C. Washburn was placed in com- 
mand at that place. Gen. Herron reached Vicksburg on the 
11th, with a division from the department of the Missouri, and 
his force was stationed on the left near Warrenton, so as to 
cut effectually all cummunication between Pemberton and 
Johnston. Herron's intrenchmentri extended to the edge of 
the water of the Mississippi. On the 14th, General Park 
arrived wirh two divisions from Burnside's corps, and was 
ordered to Haines' Bluff. The besieging army now numbered 
about 70,000 men. 

Johnston, as has been stated, was at Jackson, and was being 
reinforced. This caused Grant some uneasiness. He knew 
the importance of Vicksburg to the Confederate government, 
and that the capture of this stronghold would l-^ad to the fall 
of Port Hudson, and the opening of the Mississippi to the 
Union. He knew that Johnston would do all that lay in his 
power to relieve Pemberton and save Vicksburg. Grant there- 
fore strongly fortified Haines' Bluff on the east side, and from 
there erected a chain of fortifications to the Big Black River. 
He also erected strong posts at the crossing of the railroad 
over that stream. 

On the 26th of May, Blair's division was sent up the Yazoo 
River to repel a rebel force supposed to be in that locality, and 
to take all the food and forage that could be found. Blair 
returned in one week with a large supply of forage and provis- 
ions, and a number of cattle was also brought in for the use of 
the army. 

On the 7th of June, a Confederate force, about 3,000 strong, 
under the command of Gen. McCuUoch, of Gen. Richard Tay- 
lor's command, attempted to surprise the garrison at Young's 
Point and Miliken's Bend. The force at Young's Point num- 



132 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



bered 500 men ; that at Miliken's Bend consisted of a brigade 
of colored troops, and a few companies of the 22d Iowa regi- 
ment. A part of the enemy appeared at Young's Point in 
broad daylight, but seeing a gun-boat hastily retreated. "The 
other Confederate force under McCiilloch reached its destina- 
tion before daylight, drove in the pickets, and in a hand to 
hand fight forced the colored and white troops back to the 
river bank, where they found shelter and safety under the guns 
of the Choctaw. The fire ©f the heavy guns of these vessels 
was so terrific that the enemy, though flushed with victory and 
drunken with rage at the colored troops, withdrew in confu- 
sion. In view of Gen. Taylor's suggestive report that, 'unfor- 
tunately some 50 negroes had been taken prisoners' it may be 
inferred that had the gun-boat not been there to drive off Mc- 
Culloch's savage soldiers, the colored troops would have fared 
as they subsequently did at Fort Pillow at the hands of Forest 
and his murderous fiends." Grant immediately sent over 
Mower's brigade to their assistance. 

On the 22d, Grant received positive information that Johns- 
ton had crossed the Big Black River, with the intention of 
making an attack in the rear, in order to relieve Pemberton. 
Sherman was thereupon placed in command of all the troops 
in the rear, having a force of upwards of 30,000 men. Grant's 
army was now strong enough to take the offensive against 
Johnston, and still be able to hold Pemberton in Vicksburg ; 
but he concluded that it would be policy to first dispose of 
Pemberton, and then turn on Johnston and drive him from the 
state. Pemberton put his soldiers on half rations, and by the 
latter part of this month provisions had become scarce, and 
the inhabitants grew thin and pale in their narrow dens. The 
soldiers limbs became stiffened and swollen for want of exercise, 
by lying so long in the trenches, and begged their commander 
to surrender the city. Grant pushed the siege with all the en- 
ergy that characterized him. The land batteries daily kept 
playing on the devoted citadel, while Porter on the front, day 
and night kept up a continuous bombardment, his 13-inch 
shells crashing through the buildings, or dropping in the 
streets, forced the inhabitants to seek shelter in eaves dug in 
the earth. It is affirmed that as many as twenty-five persons 
found shelter in a single one of these caverns. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 133 



On the 22d, information was received that Pemberton had 
men engaged in building boats, with the intention of making 
his escape v/ith the garrison to the opposite side of the river. 
Grant immediately informed Porter of the contemplated move, 
and the admiral renewed his vigilance on the Mississppi. A 
large quantity of combustible material was collected on the 
Louisiana shore, ready to be ignited had Pemberton made 
the attempt. 

Grant continued the siege with unabated vigor. At three 
points on the Jackson road, in front of Ransom's brigade, a 
sap was run up to the Confederate parapet, and by the 25th of 
June it was undermined, and the mine charged ; the enemy 
had countermined, but failed to reach the Union mine. At 
three o'clock on that day, all being ready, the mine was ex- 
ploded, while at the same time, Grant opened up a heavy ar- 
tillery fire alonghis whole line. A terrific explosion took place 
and the miners were blown in all directions, Some of them 
coming down on the Federal side, still alive. Among these 
was a colored "man, who had been underground at work when 
the explosion occurred, and was thrown within Grant's lines. 
He was not seriously injured but terribly frightened. On be- 
ing asked how far he had gone up, replied : "Dun no, massa, 
but t'ink 'bout t'ree mile." He was taken to General Logan's 
quarters, where he did service till the end of the siege. 

The effect of this explosion was to blow the top of the hill 
off, and make a crater where it stood, but the breach was not 
sufficient to enable a column of attack to pass through. Two 
regiments entered the chasm, from which a desperate effort was 
made to expel them, but they held their position. The main 
part of the enemy retreated before the explosion took place to 
an inner line on higher ground. From here, however, they 
threw down hand-grenades, which did some execution. The 
enemy could lay their grenades on the parapets, and roll them 
down upon the Union troops, while the latter had to throw 
theirs to a considerable bight in order to reach the Confederates. 
They also threw down shells with the fuses lit into the midst of 
the unprotected ranks. The assaulting force finally withdrew, 
and left the chasm in possession of the enemy. Grant's loss in 
this affair was about thirty killed and tvounded. 



134 AUTOBIOGKAPHY OF 



On tlie 1st of July, another mine was exploded to the right 
of the Jackson road, destroying an entire rebel redan, killing 
and wounding a number of its occupants, and leaving an im- 
mense chasm where it stood. Grant did not make a second 
attack, his experience of the 25th, admonished him of the dan- 
ger attending such an assault. He sustained no loss in this ex- 
plosion, and the loss on each side in both explosions was pro- 
bably about equal. From this time forward the work of min- 
ing, and pushing the Federal position was vigorously prose- 
cuted, and Grant now determined to run a number of mines, 
and have them ready by the Gth. exjilode them all at the same 
time, and make an assault immediately after. At three points, 
one in front of each corps, the contending forces were only 
divided by the parapet. By the '. st of July, the Federal ap- 
proaches had reached the enemy's ditch at a number of ulaces. 
At ten points they were now within from five to one hundred 
yards of the Confederates, and orders were given to make all 
preparations for a final assault on the Gth of July. 

In the meantime, Pemberton managed to keep up a corres- 
pondence with the rebel government. He was assured by 
Jefferson Davis that Johnston would receive reinforcements 
sufficient to raise the seige. In his dire extremity, he vainly 
cast his eyes towards the east to catch some tidings of John- 
ston's approach. He felt as if he was forsaken by his own 
government. For food and ammunition he was reduced to the 
last extremity. He had a powerful fleet guarding every point 
on his river front, and an army in his rear commanded by one 
of the most consumate generals of modern times. On the 1st 
of July, he seeing no hope of outside relief, addressed the fol- 
lowing letter to each of his four division commanders : 

"Unless the seige of Vicksburg is raised, or supplies are 
thrown in, it will be necessary very shortly to evacuate the 
l)lace. I see no prospect of the former, and there are many 
great, if not insuperable obstacles in the way of the latter. You 
are, therefore, requested to inform me with as little delay as 
possible, as to the condition of your troops and their ability 
to make the marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to ac- 
complish a successful evacuation." 

Two of his generals suggested surrender, and the other two 



THOS. H. BARTON. 135 



practically acquiesced. It was conceded that an attempt to 
evacuate would fail. On the 3d about ten in the forenoon, 
white flags appeared on a part of the Confederate works and 
hostilities immediately ceased along that part of the line. On 
the same day, General Bowen, under a flag of truce, brought a 
sealed dispatch for General Grant, proposing to surrender, and 
the following correspondence took place : 

Headquarters, Vicksburcj, \ 
July 3d, 1863. / 

"Ma,tor-General Grant, Commanding United States Forces: 
"General : — I have the honor to propose an armistice for 



hours, with the view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicks- 
burg. To this end if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commis- 
sioners to meet a like uumber to be named by yourself, at such place 
and hour to-day as you may find convenient. I make this proposi- 
tion to .save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be 
shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my 
position for a yet indefinite period. This comnumication will be 
handed you under a flag of truce, by Major-Geueral John S. Boweu. 
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"J, C. Pembebton." 

To this General Grant replied as follows : 

"Headquarters, Department of Tennessee, \ 
In the Field, near Vicksburg, \ 

July 3d, 1863. J 

"LiEUTENANT-GENERii L J. C. Pemberton, Commanding Confeder- 
ate Forces <fe«. 
"General : — Your note of this date, just received, proposing an 
armistice for several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capi- 
tulation through commissioners, to be appointed, etc. The useless 
effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course can be ended at 
any time you may choose, by the unconditional surrender of the city 
and garrison. Men who have shown so much endurance and courage 
as those now in Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an 
adversary, and I can assure you will be treated with all the respect 
due to prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposition of appointing 
commissioners to arrange the terms of capitulation, because I have 
no terms other than those indicated above. 

"I am General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"U S Grant, Major-Geueral." 

General Bowen also suggested that Grant and Pemberton 



136 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



should have a personal interview. To this Grant sent a verbal 
message stating that, if Pemberton desired it, he would meet 
him in front of McPherson's corps at three o'clock that after- 
noon. This interview took place at the appointed time, but 
no terms could be extorted from Grant other than those con- 
tained in his reply to Pemberton's letter, and the conference 
ended ; he, however agreeing by ten o'clock that night to send 
another letter, containing his final terms of capitulation. His 
ultimatum was as follows : 

"Headquarters Department of Tennessee,"! 
"Near Vicksburg, July 3d, 1863. / 

"Lieutenant-General J. (,\ Pemrerton, C'owmandmf/ Confeder- 
ate Forces, Vicksburg, JMlHsiHsipj)!.: 

"GeneraIj: — In conformity with aj^rt'enient of this aftonioon, I 
will submit the following propnajtion for the surrender of the city of 
Vicksburg, public stores, ete. On your accepting the terms proposed, 
I will march ki one division as a jjuard, and take possession at eight 
A. M. to-morrow. As soon as rolls can be made out, and ]3aroles be 
signed by ofTicers and men, you will be allowed to march out of our 
lines, the officers taking with them their side-arms and clothing, and 
the field, staff and cavalry officers one horse each. The rank and tile 
will be allowed all their clothing, but no other property. 

If these conditions are accepted, any amount of rations you may 
deem necessary can be taken from the stores you now have, and also 
the necessary cooking utensils for preparing them. Thirty wagons 
also, counting two two-horse or mule teams as one, will be .allowed 
to transport such articles as cannot be carried along. The same con- 
ditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and soldiers 
as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these latter 
must be signed, however, whilst officers present are authorized to 
sign the roll of prisoners, 

"I am, General, very respe(!tfully, your obedient servant, 
"U. IS. Grant, Major OcneraL.^^ 

General Peml)erton's reply was as follows : 

"Headquarters, Vicksburcj, \ 
July 3d, 1863. / 

"Majijk General (Jrant, Comrnandincj United States Forces: 

"General:— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
comniuni(!ati()n of this date, proposing terms of capitulation for this 
garrison and post. In the main your terms are accepted; but, in 
justice both to the honor and spirit of my trooi)s, manifested in the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 137 



defence of Vicksburg, I have to submit the following amendments, 
which, if accepted to by you, will perfect the agreement between us. 
At ten o'clock A. M. to-morrovv, I propose to evacuate the works in 
and around Vicksburg, and to surrender the city and garrison under 
my command, by marching out with my colors and arms, stacking 
them in front of my present lines. After which you will take pos- 
session. Officers to retain their side-arms and personal property, and 
the rights and property of citizens to be respected, 

"I am, General, yours very respectfully, 

"J. C. Pemberton, Lieutenant-Oeneral.^^ 

General Grant immediately replied as follows : 

"Heauqi^akteks, Depaktment of Tennessee, "t 
Before Vicksburg, July 4th, 1863./ 

"Lieutenant General Pemberton, Commanding Forces in 
Vicksburg: 
''General: — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
communication of 3d July. 'i'he amendment proposed by you 
cannot be accedetl to in full. It will be necessary to furnish every 
officer and man with a parole signed by himself, which, with the 
completion of the roll of prisoners, will necessarily take sometime. 
Again, I can make no stipulations with regard to the treatment of 
citizens and their jjrivate property. While I do not propose to cause 
them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot consent to leave myself 
under any restraint by stipulations. The property which officers 
will be allowed to take with them will be as stated in my proposition 
of last evening; that is, officers will be allowed their private baggage 
and side-arms, and mounted officers one horse each If you mean 
by your proposition for each brigade to march to the front of the 
lines now occu|)ied by it, and stack arms at ten o'clock A. M. and 
then return to the inside and there remain as prisoners until prop- 
erly paroled, I will make uo objection to it. Should no notification 
be received of your acceptance of my terms by nine o'clock A. M., I 
shall regard them as having been rejected, and shall act accordingly. 
iShould these terms be accepted, white flags should be displayed along 
your lines to prevent such of my troops as may not have been notified 
from tiring upon your men. 

"I am. General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"U. S. Grant, Major General, U. S. A." 

To this the subjoined answer was received : 

"Headquarters, Vicksburg,) 
July 4th, 1863. i 

"Ma.ior-General U. S. Grant, Commanding United States 
Forces: 

18 



138 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



"General: — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
communication of this date, and in reply, to say that the terms pro- 
posed by you are accepted, 

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

"J. C. Pemberton, Lieutenant GeneraW 

******* 

General Pemberton, in his report, says : 

" If it should be asked why the 4th of July was selected as 
the day for surrender, the answer is obvious : I believed that 
upon that day I should obtain better terms. Well aware of 
the vanity of our foe, I knew they would attach vast import- 
ance to the entrance on the 4th of July into the stronghold of 
the great river, and that, to gratify their national vanity they 
would yield then what could not be extorted from them at any 
other time." 

* ****** * 

On the 4th of July, Gen. Holmes, with a force of about 
10,000 men of the trans-Mississippi command, made an attack 
on Helena, Arkansas. He was totally defeated by Gen. Pren- 
tiss, who was in command at Helena with less than 4,200 men. 
Holmes reported his loss at 1,636, of which 173 were killed. 
The Federal loss was 57 killed, 127 wounded and between 30 
and 40 missing. This was the last effort of the Confederates 
to "aise the siege of Vicksburg. 

Pemberton, having accepted the terms of capitulation, the 
garrison of Vicksburg marched out of their works at the 
appointed time, tormed line in front, stacked their arms and 
marched buck as prisoners of war. This scene was witnessed 
by the whole Union army without cheering. Logan's division 
was the first to enter the city, and the Hag of one of the regi- 
ments of liis flivision soon floated over the court house. The 
prisoners were kindly treated, and the Union soldiers were no 
sooner within the lines than the two armies began to fraternize. 
Bread was given to the hungry Confederates by tliose who 
were so recently engaged in starving them out. 

On the afternoon of the 4th, Grant sent Captain Wm. M. 
Dunn, of his staff, to Cairo, the nearest ])oint where the tele- 
graph could be reached, with a disj)atch to Gen. Halleck. It 
read as follows : 



THOS. H. BARTON. 139 



'' The enemy surrendered this morning. The only terms 

allowed is their parole as prisoners of war. This I regard as 

a great adv^antage to us at this moment. It saves probably 

several days in the capture, and leaves troops and transports 

ready for immediate service. Sherman, with a large force, 

moves immediately on Johnston, to drive him from the state. 

I will send troops to the relief of Banks, and return the 9th 

army corps to Burnside." 

******** 

Pemberton and his army were kept in Vicksburg until the 
whole could be paroled. By the 11th, just one week after the 
surrender, the paroles were completed, and the Confederate 
garrison marched out. The paroles were in duplicate, and 
signed by the commanding officers of the companies and 
regiments, and also by each individual soldier, one being re- 
tained by the soldier signing and the other by the Federal 
authorities. Hundreds refused to sign their paroles, prefer- 
ring to be sent to the north as prisoners to being sent back to 
the rebel army. During the siege a large number of them 
voluntarily came into the Union lines, and requested to be 
sent north, where they could find employment till the war was 
over and they could go to their several homes. Many deserted 
and comparatively few ever returned to the Confederate ser- 
vice. There was great anxiety among the officers to carry off 
their negroes under the title of personal property, but it was 
positively forbidden by Grant. 

If it maybe asked why Grant did not insist upon an uncon- 
ditional surrender, the answer is obvious : According to the 
terras of the cartel then in force, prisoners captured by either 
army were required to be forwarded as speedily as possible 
to either Aiken's Landing, on the James River, or to Vicks- 
burg, there to be exchanged, or to be paroled until they 
could be exchanged. A Confederate officer was then at 
Vicksburg, having full authority to make the exchange. Had 
Grant insisted upon an unconditional surrender, these pris- 
oners would have had to be transported to Cairo, and thence 
by rail to Baltimore or Washington, thence again by steamer 
to Aiken's Landing — all at very great expense. Here they 
would have been paroled, because the Confederates did not 



140 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



have prisoners to give in exchange. Moreover, Peraberton's 
army was largely composed of men whose homes were in the 
southwest, and it was believed that many of them were tired 
of the war, and were anxious to return to the peaceful avo- 
cations of life. 

Vicksburg was riddled with shot and shell, nearly every 
house in the city being shot through. Some had a corner 
blown off, and of many the walls were bulged. There were 
large craters in the streets, where ihe 13 inch shells had burst, 
the pillars of the piazzas were split in pieces. It is said that 
there was not a whole pane of glacs within five miles. Al)out 
300 houses were occupied as hospitals. The inhabitants literal- 
ly buried themselves in the grovmd, to avoid destruction from 
the iron hail above and around them. 

The result of the campaign of Vicksburg, as summed up by 
General Grant was : "The defeat of the enemy in five battles 
outside of Vicksburg; the occupation of Jackson, the capitol of 
the State of Mississippi ; and the capture of Vicksburg, its gar- 
rison, and munitions of war ; a loss to the enemy of 37,000 
prisoners, among whom were 15 general officers ; at least 10,000 
killed and wounded, and among the killed Generals Tracy, 
Tilghm.in, and Green ; and hundreds, perhaps thousands of 
stragglers, who can never be collected and reorganized. Arms 
and munitions of war for an army of 00,000 men have fallen 
into our hands, besides a large amount of other public property 
consisting of railroads, locomotives, cars, steamboats, cotton, 
etc. ; and much was destroyed to prevent our capturing it." 
31,600 ])risoners, 173 cannons, and about <50,000 muskets fell 
into his hands at Vicksi)urg ; Grant's total loss in thi; (•ami)aign 
was 8, .'373, of which 1)13 were killed. 

Much credit is due to Admiral Porter and the marines under 
his command for their untiring vigilance, day and night, dur- 
ing this memorable seige. No less than 16,000 shells were 
thrown into tlie city by the navy. The gunboat Cincinnati, 
while engaging the hill batteries, was struck by a shell and 
totally disabled, and finally sunk. Five were killed, fourteen 
wounded and fifteen drowned. 

When General Gardner, who was holding Port Hudson, learn- 
ed that Peraberton had surrendered to Grant, he inunediately 



THOS. H. BARTON, 141 



surrendered to General Banks. The Mississippi was now open 
from Cairo to its mouth, and the so-called Confederate States 
of America severed in twain. This great water-way ever after 
remained in possession of the Government. 

Vicksburg and Pemberton secured, Grant immediately faced 
eastward to confront Johnston, and drive him from the state. 
At two in the afternoon of the fourth, his columns were on the 
march. Sherman had been given a detached command, con- 
sisting of the troops at Haines' Bluff, and a division from each, 
of the loth, 15th, and 17th, Corps, and Lauman's division. 
Johnston's army numbered about 24,000 men. Late in June 
he had marched towards the Big Black, intending to make an 
attack on Grant from the south ; but, on learning of the fall 
of Vicksburg, he fell back to Jackson, reached that place about 
the 9th of July, and placed the divisions of Loring, Walker 
French, and Breckinridge so as to cover the city on the ap- 
proach of Sherman. On the same day, Sherman appeared 
before it, having marched fifty miles through a country almost 
destitute of water. He had nearly 50,000 men and 100 guns. 
On tlie 12th the city was invested, and the seige pushed till the 
17th, when it was learned that the place was evacuated. John 
ston retreated across Pearl River through Brandon to Meri- 
dian, about 100 miles distant, burning the bridges and destroy- 
ing the roads behind him. 

Sherman lost about 1.000 men killed, wounded and missing, 
five hundred of these being of Laumans brigade, which, under 
a misapprehension, was needlessly exposed to the enemy's 
fire. Johnston left his sick and wounded behind him, and 
about 1,200 prisoners fell into Sherman's hands. Steel's divis- 
ion followed the retreating enemy to Brandon, fourteen miles 
east of Jackson, but failed to overtake him. Sherman soon 
afterwards fell back and went into camp at Camp Sherman on 

the Big Black River, and the campaign ended. 

******* 

There can be no doubt that the campaign of Vicksburg and 
Lee's Gettysburg campaign were the turning point of the war 
in favor of the Federal government. In the latter days of 
April, while Grant was preparing to cross the Mississippi^ 
Rosecrans was confronting Bragg in Tennessee and Hooker was 



142 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



opposing Lee in Virginia. While Grant was crossing the Mis- 
sissippi, Hooker was preparing to cross the Rappahannock, 
and attack Lee in his fortified camp near Fredericksburg ; and 
on the day after Grant fought the battle of Port Gibson, the 
Giants of the East fought the battle of Chancellorsville, which 
resulted in the defeat of Hooker. Lee now conceived the 
idea of invading Maryland and Pennsylvania. He had reason- 
able prospects of success. He supposed that the army of the 
•Potomac had become demoralized by its defeats at Fredericks- 
burg in the winter and at Chancellorsville in May. Moreover, 
25,000 men had been discharged by reason of the expiration 
of their terms of service, which reduced the Federal army to 
about 80,000 ; while Lee, who had been reinforced by the Con- 
federate President without stint, had a force of about 105,000 
effective troops. He therefore determined to invade Pennsyl- 
vania, and march on Philadelphia or New York. It was sup- 
posed that this would create a diversion in the northern states 
in favor of the south, and end the war by compelling the gov- 
ernment to acknowledge the independence of the Southern 
Confederacy. 

This fatal move on the part of Lee was abruptly brought to 
a close at Gettysburg on the first, second and third of July, 
when the Giants of the East once more met in mortal conflict. 
Lee was defeated by the army of the Potomac under General 
Mec^de, and while he was withdrawing his shattered and beaten 
army from the disastrous field of Gettysburg, Grant and 
Pemberton were quietly sitting under the shade of a scrub- 
oak tree, arranging the terms for the surrender of the city and 
garrison of Vicksburg. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE CAMPAIGN OF VICKSBURG.— PERSONAL AND REGIMENTAL. 

I shall now return to Young's Point, Louisiana, and take up 
the thread of ray personal narative and regimental experience. 
Soon after our arrival at this place, the regiment was put on 
fatigue duty, and the boys did their share in the construction 
of the canal opposite Vicksburg. When Gen. Grant organized 



THOS. H. BARTON. 143 



his army, we were placed in the third brigade, with the 36th, 
37th and 47lh Ohio regiments, commanded by Gen. Lightburn, 
who had been promoted to be a Brigadier-General of volun- 
teers. This brigade was placed in the second division of the 
fifteenth army corps, commanded by Gen. VV. T. Sherman, and 
was with the latter general on the Deer Creek or Steel's Bayou 
expedition. On this expedition Surgeon Philson received an in- 
jury of the head by a falling limb of a tree, from which he 
never recovered. 

While at Young's Point, sickness prevailed to an alarming 
extent among the troops, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and rheuma- 
tism, being the prevailing diseases. Typhoid fever was caused 
by using the surface water, which was contaminated with hu- 
man excrement in a partially putrified condition, thus making 
the drinking water a fit nidus for the germs of this disease. 
It is my opinion that diarrhoea was occasioned partly from the 
same cause, and by exposure to the weather, which, as I have 
stated in a former chapter, was wet and inclement. Through- 
out February and March the rain was almost incessant. Dur- 
ing part of the time it rained from morning till night, and it 
would be impossible to perform our culinary operations, and 
cook our "sow-belly." Rheumatism was caused by exposure to 
the weather, the troops having no shelter. The regiment lost 
thirty one men by sickness at Young's Point and Milikens 
Bend ; at Van Buren Hospital, two ; on board a steamboat, 
one ; at the general hospital at St. Louis, Missouri, two ; on 
board hospital steamer, R. C. Wood, one; making a total loss 
of thirty seven from January 20th, to the first week in May. 
Several died who were left at the convalescent camp at Mili- 
ken's Bend : one or two died who had been sent away sick, 
and four were discharged for disability at these places ; at 
Charleston, West Va., two; at St. Louis, one; at Gallipolis, 
Ohio, two ; at Columbus, Ohio, one ; total ten. There were 
two desertions, making a total loss of forty nine men. 

Soon after our arrival at Young's Point, Surgeon Philson 
established a regimental hospital, and comrade Kalloussouski 
was detailed to act as hospital steward. I was placed in the 
field near the regiment, and was furnished with a dispensary, 
where the sick soldiers, who were able for light duty, reported 



144 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



to me for treatment, I had a large number of patients, and 
was kept very busy every forenoon prescribing and putting up 
medicine. Those who were threatened with typhoid fever were 
sent to the hospital. I met with fair success in the treatment 
of these cases, my prescription for]diarrhoea being a compound 
of the tincture of opium, fluid extract of ginger, and tincture 
of capsicum, mixed with a syrup made from pure sugar. Pep- 
permint water was also generally added to the mixture. I re- 
mained in this position near two weeks, when, about the first 
of February, Surgeons Ackley and Waterman returned to the 
regiment, and went on duty as army surgeons. Dr. Waterman, 
after consulting with me in relation to the prevalent diseases 
and my treatment of diarrhoea, took charge of the work, wrote 
the prescriptions, and I filled them. Surgeon Waterman, how- 
ever, was soon relieved by Surgeon Ackley, who took the field, 
but was unable to stand the service. His health soon began 
to fail, and he l^^came affected with hemorrhage of the lungs, and 
resigned his position in the latter part of February. He was 
an excellent army surgeon, and was greatly missed by the regi- 
ment. Dr. Philson was appointed in his stead, and Dr. Water- 
man was promoted'to the oflflce of assistant surgeon. 

Many amusing incidents occurred at Young's Point and 
Milikens Bend. One day, Surgeon Ackley sent me without a 
pass to our hospital for a supply of medicines. I was wearing 
a fatigue suit, and had a basket in my hand. The canal lay 
nearly in my direct route to the hospital, and I concluded to 
take a view of the work, and pass my judgment on it. So I 
walked on leisurely, and stopped on the bank of the canal, 
when I saw a great number of soldiers at work. My position 
was near the center of the canal, and casting my eyes north, 
I saw the soldiers with pick and spade in hand digging and 
shoveling, and on looking south, as far as the eye could reach, 
I saw the same thing. I stood for several minutes in deep 
meditation, wondering whether they could change the channel 
of the Mississippi, and leave Vicksburg an inland city. My 
cogitations, however, were suddenly cut short by the appear- 
ance of an ofi^icer in full uniform, a sash around his waist, a 
sword at his side, and a spade in his liand. He was the officer 
of the day, in eharge of the soldiers at work on the canal. I 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



145 



do not remember what rank he held, or to what regiment he 
belonged. He was very near me before I perceived him, and 
he broke in upon my thoughts by handing me the spade, say- 
ing at the same time : ''Sir, take this spade in your hand, and 
go to work on the canal and shovel dirt." Such a peremptory 
order, coming from an officer who had no direct command 
over me, took me by surprise, and I had to think for several 
moments how to answer him, for I was determined not to take 
he spade in my hands. I informed him that Surgeon Ackley 
had sent me to our regimental hospital for medical supplies 

ible. The officer replied that he had peremptory orders from 
headquarters to set all stragglers to work on the canal, and 
that these oiders must be obeyed. I told him that Surgeon 
Ackey needed the supplies that I was sent for, and thft i^ 
would be impossible for me to go to work on the canal He 
finally gave It up, and I walked leisurely away. I do not 
remember meeting that officer again, and I was afLwards very 
careful to keep away from that locality, while the soldiers were 
working on the canal. This pompous officer appeared to feel 
more proud of his position that day, than General Grant dTd 
^>hen he assumed command of the armv of the Tennessee 

John Mercer of the hospital squad and myself dug a hole in 

he le.ee and slept together. Surgeon Ackley had a dirty li tie 

colored boy about twelve years of age for a waiter, and he 

wHh t w"f r'T ^^' '''''''' '^ ''' ^^« ^^"1^ ^^^^y « W 
in hi hoi. th 1' .''?"'^"^ '^^^ surgeon had more room 

in his ho e than we had in ours. Moreover, we thought he 

not kZ T"'.!?"rf °"^^' ^" ^^^^^^"^ -^^^ - -q- 't. I do 
tlZZ : ." '^''^' '^^P' '' "^S^^' b^t °"« f-^t is cer- 
steward. "" ^i^^^ Comrade Mercer and the hospital 

according to the army regulations, which I had purchased 
rom a tailor in Gallipolis, Ohio. When the weather was ^r 

caZs and " ' T^ T' ''^' ^ "'^^^ ^^"-^^^ ^^- ^^ff-ent 
camps and regiments. According to the military code, a pri- 
vate soldier cannot pass the guards without a wrftten permL- 
sionjrom his commanding officer; but when an officer passes 



146 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



the guards, the soldiers on duty salute him with their guns, 
and the officer returns the salute with his sword or hand. I 
frequently walked through the camp in my uniform, and the 
soldiers would salute me as an array officer. Surgeon Philson 
was rather careless in his dress and attire, and he felt more 
comfortable in an old blouse and slouch hat than he did in the 
regulation uniform. He seldom wore shoulder-straps, or any- 
thing to distinguish him from a common soldier, and must have 
experienced difficulty in passing the guards, other than those of 
his own regiment. He would frequently be halted, and the 
guards inquire for his pass. One Sabbath morning, about eight 
o'clock, three army surgeons marched very orderly into our 
hospital tent, in order to observe how we kept it. They made 
a close inspection, but found the place in a very untidly con- 
dition ; the tent was unswept and very dirty, all the hospital 
attendants but myself being absent. I had not changed my 
clothing that morning, and did not look much like an hospital 
steward. These officers had been appointed to inspect the 
different hospitals. After the usual salute they asked me 
if I was the hospital steward. I answered in the affirmative. 
They then inquired for the hospital nurses, I replied that I did 
not know. Their answer was : "Your hospital looks like it had 
never been swept ; why don't you make the nurses keep it 
clean?" I replied that I had good nurses, and could not ex- 
plain why things were in such an untidy condition that morn- 
ing, that the hospital was usually kept in a good condition, 
and that I did not know there was to be an inspection. To 
this apology one of the surgeons replied : "You are placed 
in charge of hospital attendants, and it is your business to see 
that your attendants do their duty, and we shall report you 
to headquarters, and have your court-marshaled." I believe 
this was the first complaint made against me during my army 
experience, and I felt mortified in regard to the matter. I do 
not know whether I was reported ; but I never heard anything 
more of this inspection affair. Soon after the inspectors left 
the nurses returned. They were not in the habit of being 
away long at a time : but I felt irritated, and asked them in an 
unusually rough way : "Why did you leave the tent in this dirty 
condition this morning?" One of them replied : "Surgeon 



THOS. H. BARTON. 247 



Philson sent his colored waiter very earlv in the morning and 
borrowed the broom, and has not returned it. We thought 
It was his place to return it, so we did not go after it, and we 
did not know about this inspection of the hospital." I think 
the nurses were right, and I also think Surgeon Philson should 
have informed me in regard to the inspection. 

During the period that the enemv had control of the river 
between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Grant learned that a 
bontederate steamer was on her way up the river with supplies 
for the garrison at Vicksburg. One damp, foggy morning a 
thirty-two pound gun was planted on the bank of the river a 
tew rods below the mouth of the canal. The boat finallv made 
her appearance; the bank of the river was lined with soldiers 
and when she got abreast of the gun, the artillerymen gave her 
a bow shot, but she kept on her course, and before the ^un 
could be reloaded a dense fog settled over land and water and 
the boat was lost from view. She continued on her way blow- 
ing her whistle, and landed safely under the guns of Vicks- 
burg. Had it been a clear morning, the boat would have either 
been sunk or captured. About this time Grant attempted to 
shell \ icksburg with ricochet shot. A gun was planted at an 
angle so that the ball, when it struck the water, would rebound 
and tall in the city. I saw several shots fired in this way and 
could see the balls rise ; but could not see when they struck the 
ground, I do not think they did any damage 

On the night of the J6th of April'l stood on the bank of the 
Mississippi at Young's Point and saw the gunboats and trans- 
ports run the batteries in front of Vicksburg. It was a grand 
and imposing affair. The night was dark, and it was hoped 
that the fleet might run the gauntlet in the darkness A large 
gunboat passed Young's Point about half past ten o'clock 
followed by the other gunboats. Next come the frail trans- 
ports. They floated down the muddy stream, making no 
noise, but when ihey had made about two-thirds of the way 
to the b uffs, where the river makes a turn to the south, a sig- 
nal light was seen on the heights above. This was answered 
by others, and presently the report of a large gun was heard, 
followed by others, to which the gunboats replied, and a 
terrific cannonade was kept up between the fleet and the Con- 



248 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



federate batteries on the heights. Presently a hght was seen 
about half way up the bluffs, which proved to be a huge bon- 
fire lighting up the broad bosom of the river, and making it 
as light as day. My point of observation was five or six miles 
distant, and the shore of the river was as light as on a bright 
moonlight evening. The fleet put on a full head of steam and 
passed safely through the terrible ordeal. I saw the town 
battery, situated just above the city, fire the last shot as the 
fleet got beyond range. When the firing ceased everything was 
quiet on land and water. , t, ■ + 

Soon after the main part of Grant's army left Young s Point, 
it was no uncommon thing to hear heavy firing m the direc- 
tion of his line of march. An old soldier named James Mus- 
grove an Irishman, and one of the hospital nurses, was very 
tired of the inaction of the army, it being so long without a 
battle. One night we heard very rapid and heavy firing and 
could see the flash of the guns. Old Jimmy, as he was famil- 
iarly called, would exclaim at every report : "Give it to em, 
Misther Grant, give it to 'em." He appeared to be greatly re- 
ioiced to know that Grant at last meant business. 

I was with the regiment on the Steel's Bayou or Deer Creek 
expedition, and was left on Steel's Bayou, together with the 
chaplain. Rev. WoodhuU, and a few of the hospital nurses, and 
some stragglers from the regiment. When Sherman's corps 
reached the vicinity of Haines' Bluff" in the last week of 
April and when he had made his dispositions and planted his 
batteries, and when the gunboats opened on the heights, 1 
supposed that it was the commencement of a battle, urant 
was below Vicksburg, and Sherman above, and my idea was 
that Grant would lead the attack from the south, and Sherman 
from the north. I was greatly disappointed when the army 
re-embarked and returned to its old position at Young s Point 
This place then looked like a deserted camp. Sherman kept 
on his march down the Mississippi, leaving Gen. Lightburn s 
brigade in the rear. 

Just before leaving Young's Point, a few soldiers from some 
other command applied to our hospital for treatment. Ihey 
were badly scorched about the face and eyes with gun-povvder 
with which they had been playing, and accidentally let it flash 



THOS. H. BARTON. 149 



in their faces. I think they were left in the rear on account 
of sickness, but I do not believe there was anything the mat- 
ter with them till they got burned with powder. Such soldiers 
should have been arrested and sent to the front. 

About the 10th of May, our regiment, under the command 
of Colonel Dayton, received orders to march to the front with 
Gen. Lightburn's brigade. We proceeded by the way of Grand 
Gulf. While on the march we met several squads of rebel 
prisoners under guard. We also met several large squads of 
colored people on their way to our convalescent camp at 
Miliken's Bend. They were rejoicing over their freedom, 
thinking they would be slaves no longer. Among them were 
seen the gray-haired grand-father, the robust men and women 
of adult age, and the infant in its mother's arms. On being 
asked : "How are the troops making it at the front?" one col- 
ored man replied : "The rebels can't stand at all befo' yo' men ; 
'da run at 'de fust fire ob 'de guns !" This darkie was about 
right in his simple statement; but it did not agree with the 
Confederate boast, made at the commencement of the war, 
that one southern soldier could whip five yankees. 

Grand Gulf looked dismal and desolate when we entered it; 
not a citizen could be seen on the streets. The bluff, where 
the enemy had his fortifications, was a high hill, with a steep 
ascent from the margin of the river to its summit. It was 
equally as defensible on its river front as Vicksburg, and Por- 
ter's fleet could not silence the Confederate guns. Our brigade 
remained at this place one day, when we received marching 
orders, and at once set out for the front. The boys did not 
like to remain idle while their comrades were doing the fight- 
ing. Among the rations drawn by the hospital squad while 
at Grand Gulf, were several sugar-cured hams which were luft 
behind through the carelessness of our cooks. They were very 
much needed before the 20th, all our rations being then ex- 
hausted except coffee and hard bread. The only white inhabi- 
tants we met were women and children. No men were to be 
seen. On the first or second day after leaving Grand Gulf, I 
stopped at a small plantation house to obtain a drink of water. 
I was met on the porch by a lady who appeared to be very 
much alarmed on 9.ccQ\:mt of the Union soldiers who were 



150 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



marching yjast her residence, and after giving me a drink of 
water, she begged that a guard might be placed around her 
house. She took me for an officer in my blue uniform. I 
informed her that I was not an officer and had no authority ; 
that the soldiers were civil people and would do no injury to 
her property. I could safely assure her on this point, for the 
troops were all in the ranks and the air resounded with the 
strains of martial music. 

One day while on the march we heard heavy tiring at a great 
distance towards the north. It was the battle of Champion's 
Hill or Big Black River, This encouraged the soldiers to 
move on rapidly, in order to reach the front and assist their 
comrades. On"^the ensuing day about 400 Confederate troops 
came into our lines and marched with us as prisoners. I think 
they were part of Loring's division, which had been cut off at 
Champion's Hill. During the march I fell in company with a 
young man from a Georgia regiment, and we had a friendly 
conversation in regard to the causes of the war. He said : 
"The South did not rebel for fear that Lincoln would set their 
slaves free ; but for this reason, that the Republican Congress 
would pass an act to stop the further extension of slavery in 
the territories." We agreed on this question as being the cause 
of the rebellion, but we did not agree as to the justice of the 

cause. . , 

On the 17th, we passed to the south and west of Champion s 
Hill, and crossed Baker's Creek where Pember ton's army 
crossed on their retreat. We passed through some cleared 
fields, and saw the ravages caused by the battle. The fences 
were thrown down, and every vestige of vegetation tramped out 
of existence. On our way through these fields we saw a num- 
ber of dead horses lying on the ground. Passing through a 
belt of timber, we saw several human bodies lying by the road 
side, and covered with blankets. I suppose these persons were 
dead, T saw one poor rebel by the ^ay side, who asked me for 
a drink of water ; but I had none to give him, and did not know 
where to obtain any, and was obliged to let him suffer. Such 
scenes as these are sickening. We had a hard march that day, 
and went into camp about five miles east of the Big Black 
River, and about twenty-five miles east of Vicksburg. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 15 I 



On the morning of the 18th* we feasted on hard bread and 
coffee, all our other rations being exhausted. Nor did we 
know where we could obtain more. The sugar-cured hams, 
which our cooks had left behind at Grand Gulf, would have 
been very welcome at this time to the hospital squad. We 
were expecting a battle to take place at any time, which help- 
ed to keep up our courage. We were on the march at an early 
hour, and when near the Big Black, learned that a battle had 
been fought on the preceding day. Here T found a Confeder- 
ate soldier, who was affected with the intermittent fever, and 
he asked me for some quinine. I gave him a few quinine pills, 
and told him how to use them. We crossed the Big Black on 
a pontoon, where the battle of the 17ht, had been fought. On 
the \'^icksburg side of tbe river, if I now remember correctly, I 
counted twenty guns, which had been abandoned by the enemy 
in his hasty retreat. We passed these guns without halting 
and at noon made coifee, and took a short rest. In about half 
an hour we were again on the march, hastening to reach our 
position in the rear of Vicksburg. About the middle of the 
afternoon a soldier gave me a piece of fat bacon, which was 
well cooked, and it tasted better than any meat I had ever 
eaten. The day was excessively hot, and we halted when the 
sun was about an hour high, eat our supper, and was again on 
the march. We were moving on a road that ran along the top 
of a ridge, and water was very scarce, and I became very 
thirsty. Soon after dark I observed a well near the road-side, 
and went to it; but a guard had been placed over it. I asked 
him for a drink of water, but he refused, saying that the well 
was for the sick and wounded soldiers. I turned to leave, 
when the guard observing my regulation coat which I always 
wore when on a march, asked me the following question : "Are 
you the hospital steward?" I answered in the affirmative. 
He replied : "If you are the hospital steward, you can 
have a drink," at same time telling me to help myself. 
This was the most delicious drink of water that I ever tasted. 
My uniform was very serviceable, for had I worn a soldier 
blouse, I would have been compelled to march that 
night without being able to slake my thirst. But in one hour's 
time I was as thirsty as ever. At ten o'clock we reached the 



152 AUTOBIOGRAPHY GF 



Union lines. It was dark as Egf pt, and I was tired, foot-sore, 
hungry and thirsty, and I think the whole brigade was in the 
same condition. I dropped down on the ground in the top of 
a felled tree and tried to sleep ; but a deathly stillness prevail- 
ed, and I did not even know where any of ray comrades were. 
The only sound that broke the stillness of the night was the 
hoot of an owl, apparently saying : ''Wh huth, who are you?" 
I had some fears lest, when morning came, I might be left be- 
hind, and fall into the enemy's hands. I slept but little, and 
when I arose, found several grease spots on my uniform which 
were quickly removed with aqua ammonia and alcohol. When 
I found the hospital squad, we congratulated each other upon 
the fact that our marching was over for the present. Since the 
12th, we had marched about eighty miles in an irregular 
circle around Vicksburg, and our camp that night was about 
seven miles east of our starting point. But the longest route 
was the shortest one, and the short way would have been a 
harder road to travel than the one we had been following. 

On the 19th, the 4th regiment was placed in advance of 
Lightburn's brigade, and charged the enemy's works. A few men 
scaled the parapet, among them Captain Finley Ong, of Com- 
pany F, and Britton Cook, a corporal of Company E, who en- 
tered the Confederate works, but were wounded and taken pris- 
oners, and died in the enemy's hands. The balance of the com- 
mand was quickly driven away. The regiment lost in this 
engagement twenty-five killed and ten mortally wounded. 
The number of wounded who recovered is unknown. Com- 
pany A lost two killed ; Company C three killed and two 
mortally wounded ; Company E two killed and three mor- 
tally wounded ; Company F five killed ; Company G three 
killed and one mortally wounded ; Company H three killed ; 
Company I six killed and four mortally wounded, and Com- 
pany K one killed. Some of the wounded were crippled for 
the rest of their lives ; some were wounded slightly, and 
soon recovered and were again ready for duty. Major A. M. 
Goodspeed was among the killed. He was a brave officer, and 
was killed near an old log house close to the enemy's works. 
Immediately after the battle a squad of Confederates marched 
out and set the structure on fire, which in time communicated 



THOS. H. BARTON. 153 



the flames to the surrounding woods. The charred remains 
of Major Goodspeed were found near the old log house, to- 
gether with some articles which belonged to him. Lieutenant 
James W. Dale, of Company I, was among the wounded. 
He was shot in the foot and taken prisoner, but was soon 
afterwards paroled and sent over the river, and succeeded in 
making his way to our convalescent camp at Miliken's 
Bend. 

The 20th and 21st were spent in taking care of the wounded, 
who were well provided for. On the 20th, one man was 
killed who belonged to Company G, and one comrade of Com- 
pany E was killed on the 21st. On the 22nd, the regiment 
participated in Grant's last assault on Vicksburg. The boys 
went into this charge with great enthusiasm, and amid the 
storm of shot and shells which were flying around them, stood 
up to their bloody work till ordered to fall back, which they 
did in good order, losing three men killed and two mortally 
wounded : of whom Company A lost one killed ; Company 
B, two mortally wounded; Company C, one killed, and 
Company D, one killed. A number were wounded who after- 
wards recovered. Among those who were severely wounded 
was P. B. Stanberry, adjutant of the regiment, who was shot 
in the hand. Mr. Stanberry was elected first lieutenant of 
Company E, and was afterwards appointed adjutant. Since 
the war he has filled the office of probate judge of Meig^ county, 
Ohio. He is a son of Hon. Henry Stanberry, w^ho held the 
office of attorney general under President Johnson, and was 
one of the president's counsel in the impeachment trial. 

On the 19th our hospital tent was pitched on a high plateau, 
the ground sloping on both sides. At some distance towards 
the front there were deep ravines and high ridges running east 
and west. On our right was a corn field. The corn was waist 
high, but it was soon destroyed, and the fences were also de- 
stroyed. On the 20th or 21st our tent was moved about three- 
fourths of a mile nearer to the enemy's works. Towards the 
rear and right of our new position there was a ravine extend- 
ing in a northwest direction ; on our left and front a high 
ridge running east and west, which afforded us some protection 
against the enemy's g\ms and sharpshooters. It was terrifying 



20 



154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



to hear these bullets ; there was one continuous roar of artil- 
lery, and the constant rattle of the small arms sounded like 
the clanking of great chains. I was careful to keep near the 
hospital tent, and did not venture very near the front during 
these battles. 

On the 22d I saw the Eighth Wisconsin regiment charge the 
enemy's works. They had a live bald eagle called "Old Abe," for 
a standard. He was carried on a platform supported by two 
men. The regiment was making a charge up the ridge on our left 
and front ; and "Old Abe," unconscious of danger, was flapping 
his wings and croaking, and appeared to be as lively as any of 
the soldiers. They marched up the ridge and when within plain 
view of the Confederates, the enemy opened fire with several 
pieces of artillery. One shell burst in a wagon that was with 
the regiment, and at the same instant I saw something that 
looked like a man, or his clothing, about fifteen feet in the air, 
though I do not think that any one was injured. The regi- 
ment had one gun with them, but did not use it. I heard the 
iron hail falling on the ground, and the bursting of the shells 
pounded like replying cannon. My position was towards the 
front, and I stood watching the shells for a few minutes, and 
then looked across the ravine to see if any of my companions 
were in sight, they having deserted me. Surgeon Waterman 
was hiding behind a stump; comrade Mercer had found shel- 
ter behind the stem of a tree, and the rest of my comrades 
had sought safety elsewhere. In a few minutes the Eighth Wis- 
consin filed to the rear and were out of sight, leaving their gun 
and wagon on the ridge, but not within view of the enemy. 
After this rpciment fell back everything was quiet along this 
part of the Union lines. 

Towards the close of the battle I ventured out and went 
some distance towards the rebel works, where I met a Captain 
who had been wounded. He had just been brought from the 
front. Tie informed me that some of his men were in the rebel 
intrenchments. I was near enough to see the stars and stripes 
on the parapet. But notwithstanding all this, and despite all 
the efforts that had been made, Vicksburg was impregnable 
against assault. 

I did not have an opportunity of seeing many of the wound- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 155 



ed, on account of Surgeon Philson being detailed at the gen- 
eral hospital, where he acted as assistant to the operating sur- 
geon. A few soldiers came to our hospital to have their 
wounds dressed. Among them was Jacob S. Coon, who had 
received a gun-shot wound of one of his fingers. I dressed the 
wound for him. 

During the siege more or less fighting occurred every day. 
When the fort was blown up the roar of the artillery was ter- 
rific, and it seemed that nothing on earth could stand against 
such cannonading. At night I frequently went with the hos- 
pital attendants to see the shells from Porter's fleet flying 
over the doomed city, and we would often be out till a late 
hour looking at the missiles of destruction. We would first 
see the flash of the guns, and then the lit fuse of the shells ris- 
ing gracefully above the horizon. Some of these shells would 
burst in the air over the city; but the most of them exploded 
after falling to the ground with a sound of replying cannon. 
We were better supplied with water than the besieged, there 
being a number of excellent springs in the ravines. One of 
these springs was situated on our left, and between the lines 
of the contending armies. It was at the foot of a bluff", the 
terminating point of a high ridge, and beyond the view of the 
enemy. On the right was a ravine over which we had to cross 
in order to go to the spring. This ravine was about twenty- 
five yards wide, and while crossing it we were exposed to the 
enemy's fire. It was like running a blockade to get a drink of 
water. When we came in sight of the enemy's works we would 
run across the ravine, and when we reached our destination, 
could hear the bang, bang, bang, from a score of small arms. 
I frequently made the dangerous journey, and about the time 
I reached the spring would hear the sharp report of the ene- 
my's guns. Sometimes I would remain half an hour to throw 
them off" their guard, and then "double quick" back with a. 
small supply of water. Notwithstanding the danger, I do not 
remember of any person being injured there. 

One day, about the middle of June, I went to the front, in- 
tending to make an inspection of the enemy's works. On 
reaching the froat, I walked parallel to the Confederate line. 
Everything was apparently quite ; not the sound of a gun 



156 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



was to be heard, but after I had walked about one hundred 
yards in this direction, I heard the sharp report of a rifle, and 
at the same time, heard the "fizzip" of a bullet passing very 
near me. I did not run, (it was not in my nature to run from 
an enemy), but quickened my pace, and was soon out of dan- 
ger. Any one will experience a disagreeable sensation at the 
sound of a bullet whistling near him. On another occasion, 
about the same time, I heard the steady firing of a gun on our 
front and right. It was a thirty two or forty pounder, and I 
went to the front in order to witness its effects. After each 
discharge the cannoneers would seek shelter behind the stem of 
a tree or stump. The enemy would reply with small arms 
aiming at the smoke. Every five or ten minutes our men 
would load and fire, to which the Confederates would again 
reply with small arms. I remained here while our fellows 
fired five or six rounds, but did not afterwards expose myself 
to danger. 

On the right of Grant's army there was an agreement be- 
tween the contending forces not to fire on each other at night. 
There wns, therefore, no danger in being near the front after 
dark. One night, about the 20th of June, I went to the front 
and entered our works, which consisted of a trench four or five 
feet deep, and wide enough for four or five men to walk abreast 
in it. This trench ran in a zig-zag way, like an old fashioned 
rail fence. I followed it till I reached the front, where our 
pickets were stationed, about twenty yards from the Confeder- 
ate lines. Here I had the pleasure of hearing the following 
conversation : 

Reb.— "Hello Yank!" 

Ynnk.— "Wbat do you want?" 

Ret). — "Have you plenty of bread on your side?" 

Yank. — "Yes; have you plenty of tobacco?" 
.* Reb. — "Will you give me bread for tobacco?" 

Yank. — "Yes, I will — will meet you halfway if you are will- 
ing." 

Reb.— "Yes, I will." 

They met midway l)etween the lines like brothers, made the 
exchange, and returned to their respective stations. But on 
the ensuing day, it would have been dangerous' for either oi 



THOS. H. BARTON. I57 



them to show his head above the ramparts, and if he did, he 
would be the target of half a score of rifles. 

About ten days before the surrender of Vicksburg, I pur- 
chased a cavalry mare, about four years old, of an Illinois 
cavalryman, giving him thirty dollars for the animal, I was 
tired traveling on foot, and as some of the hospital stewards 
were furnished with horses, I concluded to buy one. She was 
young and sound, and would leap over a low fence, a small 
creek or ditch. After this I rode on horse back while I remained 
in the vicinity of Vicksburg. I afterwards sold her to Col 
John L. Vance for the same price that I gave for her. 

Some time in the latter part of June, by recommendation, I 
was appointed Surgeon of the 2d Mississippi colored regiment 
by Gen. Sherman. This regiment was recuiting in the rear of 
Vicksburg. The officers were intelligent gentlemen ; but I now 
remember only a few of their names. The assistant surgeon 
was a young man, detailed from an Illinois regiment, which 
was recuited at Chicago. The adjutant's name was Oakes, and 
one of the captains was named Starkey ; but I do not now re- 
member their christian names. We were camped near the 
Yazoo River and Chicasaw Bayou, which was an unhealthy 
locality, abounding with malaria, spreading the germs of ma- 
larial fever, and I fell a victim to that disease. Up to this 
time my health had been good, and I had always been able for 
duty ; but from this time forward, and, indeed, during the re- 
mainder of my life, I was destined to suffer from the diseases 
incident to military service. 

Soon after joining this regiment, I took all the recruits, who 
were able to travel to a small lake near the camp, where they 
took a bath and .vashed their bodies. The major portion of 
them had scars on their bodies, which they claimed were 
made by the slave driver's lash, while in bondage. These 
colored people were negligent and careless, and looked to be 
driven when they did their duty as soldiers. Water was very 
scarce in our locality, which caused much suffering among the 
sick. One day, a sick darkey, who was slightlv delirious, 
left the hospital, went to a bluff that overlooked a ravine, crept 
over the edge, and rolled or fell a distance of twelve or fifteen 
feet, lighting on a sand bar, uninjured. When found he was 



158 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



scratching in the sand with his hands in search of water, and 
it required half a dozen men to bring him back. This locality 
was disagreeable in more ways than one. The mosquitoes 
were very troublesome, some of these insects being as large as 
ihe common bouse fly. On several occasions I left my tent, 
and went to high ground and slept in the open air in order to 
avoid these pests. 

I rode out on horseback nearly every day. On the od of 
July, while riding near the Union lines, I was much surprised 
as well as pleased to see white flags over the Federal and Con- 
federate works. Every thing was quiet along the line; the 
heavy firing had ceased; and on the 4th, I learned that Pem- 
berton had capitulated, and that Vicksburg was ours. This 
was joyful intelligence to the Union soldiers, who indeed, had 
cause to be thankful. On the 5th, I rode into the city, and saw 
the stars and stripes floating gracefully over the court house. 
It was a glorious sight to behold. The long struggle was 
over ; Vicksburg had surrendered ; the Gibraltar of America 
had fallen into our hands, and the Southern Confederacy was 
severed in twain. 

The weather, at this season of the year, was dry and hot. 
The dust on the main road from the north was from six to 
twelve inches deep, caused by the constant ingress and egress 
of the marching columns. Clouds of dust hung in the air 
over the works and city. Our clothing was so saturated with 
it, that it was impossible to distinguish the blue from the gray. 
The city looked lonely and desolate ; not a citizen was to be 
seen. It had the appearance of a city occupied entirely by 
soldiers. I have already, in a former chapter, in part describ- 
ed the destruction that took place during the seige. The work 

of destruction was complete and repetition is unnecessary. 
******* 

During my sojourn in the south, I frequently heard from 
home, but from the first week in ,Iune to the last, I received 
no intelligence from my wife and family, which caused me to 
feel very uneasy. About the last of June, I received a letter 
from my mother-in-law Mrs. Elizabeth Parsons, who informed 
me that a little girl had come to my house for board and lodg- 
ing free of charge. She was born on the twelfth, and they 



THOS. H. BARTON. 159 



named her Sophia. This was welcome news, and was not un- 
expected, and it served to revive my drooping spirits. During 
the spring, my family had left their home in SjTacuse, and 

moved to Chester in order to be near their relatives. 

* * * * * * * 

The Fourth Regiment was with Sherman during the short 
campaign against Jackson, and after remaining there for a few 
days, retarned to their old camp on the west bank of the Big 
Black River. This camp was named Camp Sherman, in honor 
of Gen. W. T. Sherman. 

In the meantime, I was doing duty as acting surgeon of the 
Second^Mississippi regiment of colored troops. I was able for 
duty nearly all the time, but every week I had a return of the 
intermittent fever, which was easily arrested by quinine. 
But I did not do as well for myself as I advised others to do, 
who were in the same condition. The proper course to follow 
was to take the quinine every week, whether affected with the 
fever or not ; but I would wait for the return of the chill, and 
then take the quinine. During the month of August I had 
several returns of this fever, and by the last of.that month, I 
became much debilitated, and broken down in health. Final- 
ly I became discouraged, and tired of my position in the regi- 
ment, in consequence of my condition, and also on account of 
the uncertainly of receiving a commission as permanent army 
surgeon. I then came to the conclusion to return to the 4th 
West Virginia, and about the last week in Augnst, mounted 
my horse, and was soon among my old companions. I was 
treated by Surgeon Philson, who gave me some relief. I at- 
tended to my duties when able, and was kept very busy on 
account of a large number of soldiers being on the sick list 
and in the hospital. 

One night about eleven o'clock, Jack Maes, a convalescent 
soldier, came to my tent, roused me up, and told me that he 
had a pain in his stomach, and asked for a dose of castor oil. 
I informed him that I was sick, and also reprimanded him for 
disturbing me at that unreasonable hour. He replied that he 
knew the bottle that contained the castor oil, and could get it 
without disturbing me. He then walked into the dispensary 
and took a drink from a bottle which he supposed contained 



150 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



whiskey. Jack took a large drink, but ran out of the tent 
without taking time to smack his lips. He had swallowed 
vinegar of squills instead of whiskey. Next day the nurses 
informed me that it made him very sick, vomiting him se- 
verely. This was the last time Jack meddled with anything 
in the dispensary. 

One day, while at Camp Sherman, I rode about a mile and 
a half into the country to a farm house where there was a well 
of good water. I arrived about noon and was invited to take 
dinner with the family. I accepted the invitation, and among 
other articles of food was coffee with cream, which seemed to 
strengthen my shattered nervous system. I was treated by 
this southern man and woman as kindly as I would have been 
at the north. A friendly feeling had sprung up between the 
Union soldiers and the citizens. Those who stood in need of 
provisions were supplied with rations, and I have no doubt 
that my dinner consisted mainly of supplies furnished by the 
government. 

About this time Surgeon Waterman presented me with a 
copy of Prof. Carpenter's work on Human Physiology, which 
I read and intended to preserve. 

My health was now rapidly failing. My robust constitution 
and powerful frame were shaken with disease. From about 
the 15th to the 23d of September I was confined to my tent 
with the remittent malarial fever, and during this time I con- 
tracted diarrhoea in a severe form. About the 23d I came to 
the conclusion that I would have to go north, or leave my re- 
mains on southern soil. I therefore made application for a 
furlough, and received one for thirty days from the hands of 
Gen. Sherman. With this document in my possession, I was 
soon on my journey to my far away home in the north. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF CHATTANOOGA. 

The town of Chattanooga was of vast importance to the 
Federal government, partly on account of its surrounding hills 
and mountains, containing vast fields of coal and beds of 



THOS. H. BARTON. 161 



niter, from which the enemy drew their supplies, and more so 
on account ot its political situation, it being located in a passage 
or gap in the Alleghany Mountains, which separate the Atlantic 
from the western states. " It was the postern to the strongholds 
of the Southern Confederacy." It is on the south bank of the 
Tennessee River, and near the line wliich divides Tennessee 
from Alabama and Georgia. The countr3^ west, south, east 
and southeast of the town is grand and picturesque. The 
country lying on the Chattanooga side of the river is best 
described beginning from west to east, as follows : 1st. Rac- 
coon Mountain is situated west of the town. 2d. Wills Val- 
ley. 3d. Lookout Valley, through which flows a creek of the 
same name. 4th. Lookout Mountain, which is 2,400 feet high, 
hanging over the town like a high pendant. It is directly 
south of the city, and the beautilul Tennessee flows past its 
base. From the summit of Lookout, portions of no less than 
six states may be seen. 5th. The great Lookout Valley, through 
which flows a creek of the same name. bth. On the east of 
this valley is Missionary Ridge, running north and south. 
7th. Orchard Knob, which is a high point lying between 
Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga. 8th. Chickamauga 
valley, through which flows a river of the same name. 9th. 
Pigeon Mountain and Chickamauga Hills, lying still further 
in a southeasterly direction. All the streams mentioned flow 
in a northwestern direction, and empty into the Tennessee 
River. In this connection, it is necessary to describe this 
River from a point a few miles northeast of Pigeon Mountain 
to Bridgeport, which is situated on the Tennessee, a few miles 
east of Stephenson, where the railroad leading to Nashville 
forms a junction with the Memphis & Charleston railroad. 

The Tennessee River, commencing a few miles east of Pigeon 
Mountain, flows in a southern direction till it reaches Chatta- 
nooga, where it flows nearly west, then turns to the east, and 
flows for a few miles in a southeastern direction, then runs 
due south till it reaches Lookout, where it runs west and 
washes the foot of this mountain. It then flows north to 
Browns Ferry, where it is only about one mile across this tongue 
of land to Moccasin Point, whereas by the river it is six. The 
Tennessee then flows northeast till it touches the base of Rac- 



162 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



coon Mountain, where it turns west, running past a high bluff 
of this mountain, and winds around this bluff till it runs in 
a southeasterly direction, then runs due south, keeping close 
to Raccoon Mountain. It then turns almost due north, mak- 
ing an acute angle for a few miles, keeping close to this moun- 
tain ; then rounds another bluff and runs west, then turns 
south, then west, then northwest, to where it is joined by the 
Sequatchie river. This tortuous stream then turns west, and 
finally flows south to Bridgeport. 

The Sequatchie River flows in a southwestern direction 
through a valley of the same name and empties into the Tennes- 
see. West of this river rises the great plateau of the Cumberland 
Mountains. Walden's Ridge is on the east. 

******* 
The battle of Stone River, near Murfreesboro, which closed 
the operations of the year 1862, in Tennessee, left Gen. Rose- 
crans established in the latter place, with the army of the 
Cumberland. Bragg, who was in command of the Confed- 
erate forces, retreated towards Chattanooga, fortifying his 
positions as he moved. Rosecrans, however, did not follow 
him, but put Murfreesboro in a posture of defence, where he 
remained in comparative inactivity during the remainder of 
the winter and spring and early part of the summer. The inac- 
tivity of Rosecrans produced much dissatisfaction. Grant 
was at thir^ time pressing the siege of Vicksburg, watched by 
Johnston in Mississippi, while Bragg was facing Rosecrans. 
Halleck, who was commander-in-chief of all the Union armies, 
was aware of the importance of Chattanooga, and of middle 
and east Tennessee. His plan for the spring and summer 
campaign in the west was for Grant to operate against Vicks- 
burg with the army of the Tennessee, Rosecrans was to push 
Bragg in Tennessee, having Chattanooga as his objective 
point, while Burnside, with the army of the Ohio, was to op- 
erate against Knoxville. Rosecrans and Burnside were also 
instructed to keep the flanks of their armies within support- 
ing distance of each other. It was Halleck's order for all their 
armies to move at the same time. 

On the 25th of June, Rosecrans put his splendid army of 
60,000 men in motion, and by a series of skillful flank move- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 163 



ments on Bragg's right flank, forced him into Chattanooga. 
On learning this, the Confederate government became greatly 
alarmed, for the surrender of Chattanooga exposed the states 
of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to 
invasion. The rebel government thereupon ordered Longstreet 
from the Army of northern Virginia, Buckner from eastern 
Tennessee, and Park, from Alabama, to move with all haste to 
Chattanooga to assist Bragg. Some of the paroled prisoners 
from Vicksburg and Port Hudson also moved to the assistance 
of Bragg, who, with these reinforcements, would have an army 
of 80,000 men. 

Rosecrans kept pursuing Bragg, and by a dexterous flank 
movement on his left flank, forced him to evacuate Chatta- 
nooga, and the Union forces took possession of the town. This 
retreat of Bragg, by abandoning middle Tennessee to the Fed- 
eral troops, had a depressing eff'ect upon his troops, and discour- 
aged the friends of the Confederacy in Tennessee. The Union 
losses in these operations were 85 killed, 462 wounded and 13 
missing. There were captured from the enemy 1,634 prisoners 
and six pieces of artillery, many small arms, much camp 
equippage, and large quantities of commissary and quarter- 
master's stores. At this time the main part of Rosecrans' 
army was below Chattanooga. He therefore crossed the moun- 
tains in pursuit of Bragg, whom he followed to the Chicka- 
mauga Valley, at the same time supposing the enemy to be in 
full retreat. In the meantime Bragg, who had been reinforced 
by three brigades under Gen. Wood, had faced about and was 
fiercely marching on Rosecrans, being determined to retake 
Chattanooga. On the 18th the Confederate army, which had 
been marching through sifting beds of dust and crumbling 
rock since the 14th, crossed West Chickamauga creek, and took 
up a position on the north side of that stream. An indecisive 
action was fought, which was little more than a struggle for 
position, maintained b}' the Confederates with a view of hold- 
ing the ground where they stood, and by the Federals with a 
view of driving the enemy across the stream. At the close of 
the day both armies occupied the same ground they held in 
the morning. 

During the ensuing night Rosecrans made some changes in 



164 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



the disposition of his forces, by which the line was so 
far withdrawn that it rested along a cross-road running 
northeast and southwest, and connecting the Rossville and 
Lafayette road. By this change the line was contracted a mile, 
and the right wing caused to rest on a strong position at 
Missionary Ridge. Thomas held the left, Crittenden the cen- 
ter, McCook the right. On the right of Thomas' line was a 
slight rise in the plain, and from the top of this the whole 
field could be commanded. It was the key to the position. 
During the night Thomas' troops had built a rude breastwork 
of rails for their protection. Gen. Lytle held Gordon's Mills. 

Longstreet reached the headquarters of Bragg on the 19th 
and was immediately put in command of the left wing of the 
Confederate army. The disposition of the whole rebel army, 
from right to left, was : Breckenridge, Cleburn, Cheatham, 
Steward, Hood, Hindman, Preston. 

Bragg's plan of attack, which he always followed, was from 
right to left. The battle commenced at nine o'clock on the morn- 
ing of tl)e 20th, when Breckenridge and Cleburn opened upon 
Thomas' command, and the engagement soon raged furiously 
along this part of the field. By eleven o'clock Longstreet be- 
gan his attack on the Union right wing. Steadily advancing, 
he swept away the head of every formation ; though often 
checked, and for the moment repulsed, again and again he 
rode to the head of his troops, and hat in hand, rising in his 
stirrups, animated his men with voice and gesture. The west- 
ern troops were as brave soldiers as ever shouldered a musket, 
but they could not check the impetuous onset of Longstreet, 
who was pressing right on for the possession of Chattanooga. 
To meet this danger, Rosecrans commenced to move troops 
rapidly from left to right, but was caught in the act of so do- 
ing by Longstreet, who fell with great suddenness and fury on 
the moving columns. Meanwhile an attack was made with 
equal vehemence on the center, which was forced back in great 
confusion. The rout of the right and center was now com- 
plete, and after that fatal break, the line of battle was not again 
reformed during the day. Thomas, however, had succeeded 
in crossing from left to right, and in the afternoon deter- 
minedly faced Longstreet, taking his stand upon the bare and 



THOS. H. BARTON. 165 



bluff termination of Missionary Ridge, upon which he had 
thrown up breast works, and which, as being the 'last strong- 
hold south of the Chattanooga works, he held with indomitable 
courage against the assaults of the enemy. Against this posi- 
tion Longstreet now directed his attention, and the battle 
raged around the hill with unprecedented fury. Gen. Thomas 
formed his troops in two columns, and as each marched up to 
the crest and fired a deadly volley at the advancing foe, it fell 
back a little way, the men lay down upon the ground to load, 
and the second line advanced to take their place, and so on in 
succession. Finding every effort to carry the Union position 
of no avail, the rebels fell back at dusk beyond the range of 
our artillery, and Thomas was left master of the well fought 
field. During the night he fell back to Rossville, where, on 
the 21st, he offered battle to the enemy, who, however, declined 
to renew the contest. Accordingly, on the night of the 21st, 
he withdrew his troops into Chattanooga. 

The Union loss in this battle was 1,644 killed, 9,262 wounded, 
and 4.945 missing, of which Thomas alone lost 6,301 killed, 
wounded and missing. They also lost thirt^'-six guns, twenty 
caissons, and several thousand small-arms and infantry 
accountrements, and captured over two thousand prisoners. 
The rebels suffered even more severely than their opponents, 
and their total loss, as stated by themselves, exceeded eighteen 
thousand men. It is now very well known that the Confeder- 
ates largely outnumbered the Union army in this engagement. 
It was one of the most bloody battles of the war, and without 
accomplishing any .important results in relation to the great 
contest, was fatal to the generals of both armies. The public 
dissatisfaction, caused by their conduct, produced ultimately, 
a change of commanders. 

Burnside had assumed command of the Department of the 
Ohio in March. On the 16th of August he began his movement 
towards Knoxville, where he arrived on the 3d of September. 
Buckner, who was in command of that place, evacuated it on 
the approach of Burnside. On the 9th, he took Cumberland 
Gap, capturing two thousand prisoners and fourteen guns. By 
the occupation of Chattanooga and Cumberland Gap, the Fe- 
deral troops now not only covered the entire State of Tennes- 



166 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



pee, but also secured a base of inland operations against Ala- 
bama, Georgia and South Carolina. Two thirds of the niter- 
beds, and a large proportion of the coal, which supplied the 
rebel founderies, lay in East Tennessee, which, moreover, 
abounded in the necessaries of life. It is one of the strongest 
countries in the world, so full of lofty mountains and impreg- 
nable positions, that it has been appropriately termed the 
"Switzerland of America." Its loss was felt to be a severe blow 
to the Confederacy. 

It was llalleck's intention for Burnside to reinforce Rose- 
crans, but instead of obeying his chief's orders, he commenced 
fortifying his position, with the intention of holding East 
Tennessee, which was now in his possession. 

After Rosecran^^ retreated to Chattanooga, he commenced to 
strengthen his position. His left rested on the river about two 
or three miles above the town, and extended around it in the 
form of a semicircle, reaching the river midway between the 
town and Lookout Mountain. Here his line crossed the river, 
and here also he massed the main part of his army. After 
crossing the river, where it washes the foot of Lookout, his 
line followed the tortuous course of the Tennessee to Bridgeport 
and Stephenson, which was his base of supplies, and where his 
left rested. Bridgeport is twenty-seven miles west of Chat- 
tanooga, and Stephenson is ten miles southwest of Bridgeport. 
Meanwhile Bragg held the battle-field of Chickamanga. His 
right flank extended to Cleveland, which is about fifteen miles 
southeast of Chattanooga, and on the Knoxville Railroad. Be- 
ginning at this place, his line passed over Orchard Knobb ; 
thence along the crest and foot of Missionary Ridge, except its 
northern extremity; thence through the Chattnnooga valley; 
thence over Lotokout Mountain; thence through and down. 
Lookout valle3-Jto the river ; thence down the river to Bridgeport. 
He fortified the passes of Lookout Mountain, and also strong- 
ly fortified Missionary Ridge, so that his batteries commanded 
Chattanooga. The intervening vallieswere also fortified, and 
he considered his position impregnable against all the force 
under 'Rosecran's command. He destroyed the railroad bridge 
at Bridgeport, thus cutting the Federal communications with 
Nashville, which was their main base of supplies. This com- 



THOS. H. BAIITON. It)'/ 



pelled Rosecrans to haul or carry his supplies over the Cum- 
berland Mountains on pack-mules, by a circuitous route; 
thence over Gulp's Hill, and thence down the Sequatchie river. 
The fall rains soon rendered the roads almost impassable, 
Bragg's cavalry, commanded by Wheeler, captured a train of 
800 wagons and 2,000 mules', which were destroyed. The trains 
between Chattanooga and Bridgeport were exposed to the 
enemy's sliarp-shooters, who occupied the opposite shore of 
the river. Finnally Rosecran's supplies became short ; his 
animals were perishing with famine ; his array was on short 
rations, and by the 15th of October, it was doubtful whether he 
could hold out much longer. 

President Lincoln was almost in despair when he learned of 
the defeat at Chickamauga. He was in great fear lest Rose- 
crans would attempt to retreat from Chattanooga before rein- 
forcements could reach him, The President realized that such 
a move would be disastrous in the extreme, and end only in 
the loss of the artillery and camp-equipage, the demoralization 
of the army, and the surrender of Tennessee to the Confederates. 
At this critical moment, Lincoln sought the advice of Halleck 
and Stanton, a consultation was held, Stanton advised that 
two corps be detached from the army of the Potomac, and 
sent immediately to the relief of Rosecrans. Lincoln and Hal- 
leck, with great reluctance, consented to Stanton's proposi- 
tion, and on the 23d of September, the eleventh and twelfth 
corps were placed aboard the cars, and sent to reinforce Rose- 
crans. They were 23,0C0 strong, under the command of Gen. 
Joseph Hooker. They arrived at Stephenson on the 30th, and 
guarded the railroad leading to Nashville. But instead of be- 
ing a relief to the army of the Cumberland, Hooker's command 
only tended to increase its suffering. 

Grant arrived at Cairo on the 16th of October, and on the 
17th, was ordered to proceed to Louisville. He immediately 
set out for the latter place by way of Indianapolis. Here he 
was met by Halleck, and together they proceeded to Louis- 
ville. Halleck was nervous, restless and uneasy in regard to 
the situation at Chattanooga. Grant was firm and resolute, 
notwithstanding he was suffering from an injury caused by a 
fall from his horse. It was while on the journey from Indian- 



168 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



apolis to Louisville that Grant received his appointment to 
the command of the newly created department of the Missis- 
sippi. It embraced the armies of the Tennessee, Cumberland 
and Ohio, and covered all the territory north of Bank's com- 
mand from the Alleghany Mountains to the Mississippi River. 
Sherman was placed in command of the army of the Tennessee, 
with head-quarters in the field. Rosecrans was relieved and 
Thomas was appointed in his stead. 

On assuming command of the Department of the Missis- 
sippi, Grant sent a dispatch to Thomas, telling him to hold 
Chattanooga at all hazzards. To this Thomas replied : "We 
will hold the town till we starve." Grant left Louisville on 
the 20th and reached Stephenson on the 21st, arriving at Chat- 
tanooga on the 22d. He found the army in a suffering condi- 
tion. The soldiers were on half rations of hard bread and lean 
beef, and their clothing was nearly worn out. Some were 
without shoes, and there was little prospect of receiving sup- 
plies for an indefinite period. It is stated on reliable authority 
that not less than 10,000 animals had starved to death. 

On learning this condition of affairs Grant determined at 
once to open his communications. Thomas, by the advice of 
Wm. F. Smith, his chief engineer, had devised a scheme for 
this purpose, and on laying their plans before Grant, and the 
three generals having made a reconnoisance, it was decided to 
adopt Thomas' plan. General Hooker, who was now at Bridge- 
port, was ordered to cross to the south side of the Tennessee, 
and march past Whitesides and Wauhatchie to Bowen's Ferry. 
General Palmer, with a division of the 14th corps, army of the 
Cumberland, was ordered to move down the north side of the 
river to a point opposite Whitesides, and cross the river in 
Hooker's rear. It was not intended to conceal these movements 
from the enemy. Meanwhile 4,000 men were detailed to act 
under General Smith immediately from Chattanooga. Eigh- 
teen hundred of them, under General Hazen, were to move 
down the river in pontoon boats, and under cover of the night 
float past the enemy's pickets to Brown's Ferry, then land on 
the south side of the river, and capture or drive away the 
pickets at that point. Smith was to move with the remainder 
of the detail along the north bank of the Tennessee to Brown's 



THOS. H. BARTON. 169 



Ferry, taking with him all the material for laying the bridge 
as soon as the crossing was effected. 

Hooker crossed the Tennessee at Bridgeport on the 26th, 
and commenced his march eastward. At three o'clock, on the 
morning of the 27th, Hazen moved down the river with his pon- 
toon boats, unobserved by the enemy. Smith set out in ad- 
vance, in order to be near the crossing when Hazen should 
arrive. At five o'clock Hazen landed at Brown's Ferry, sur- 
prised the picket guard, and captured most of them. By seven 
o'clock the whole of Smith's force was ferried over, and in pos- 
session of a highth commanding the ferry. By ten o'clock the 
bridge was laid, and our extreme right, now in Lookout valley 
was fortified and connected with the rest of the army. The 
two bridges across the Tennessee at Chattanooga and Brown's 
Ferry, covered from both the fire and the view of the enemy, 
made the connection complete. Hooker met with no serious 
opposition on the way, and on the 28th, emerged into Lookout 
valley at Wauhatchie. Howard marched to Brown's Ferry, 
while Greary, with one division of the 12th corps, stopped three 
miles south. The line of supplies thus opened, was called 
Grant's "cracker line," and the river was now in his possession 
from Lookout valley to Bridgeport. 

These movements were a complete surprise to Longstreet, 
and in order to recover Lookout valley, he determined to sur- 
prise Greary in his isolated position. He, therefore, soon after 
mid-night on the 29th made a fierce attack on Greary. Hooker, 
on hearing heavy firing in the direction of Greary, sent Howard 
to his assistance. He had three miles to march, and on his 
way was also attacked, being fired upon by rebel troops from 
a foot-hill to the left of the road, and from which the road was 
commanded. Howard turned to the left, charged up the hill, 
and captured it before the enemy had time to intrench, taking 
many prisoners. Leaving a force sufficient to hold this posi- 
tion, he pushed on to reinforce Greary, who had been engaged 
for about three hours against a vastly superior force. In the 
darkness and uproar Hooker's teamsters became frightened, 
and deserted their teams. The mules also became frightened, 
and breaking loose from their fastenings, stampeded directly 
towards the enemy, who, no doubt, took this for a charge, and 

22 



170 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



stampeded in turn. By four o'clock the battle had ended, and 
Grant's "cracker line" was not again disturbed. 

Hooker lost in this engagement 416 killed and wounded. 
The Confederate loss, so far as known, was 150 killed and 100 
taken prisoners, the number of their wounded being unknown. 
Smith lost at Brown's Ferry one man killed and six wounded. 
The enemy lost as prisoners nearly all his picket, guard 
from Brown's Ferry to a point opposite Bridgeport. In 
one week Grant had opened the river to Bridgeport, and he 
had also secured a good wagon road to the same place. The 
army was immediately supplied with an abundance of clothing 
and rations. 

Al)out one week before Grant's arrival at Chattanooga, Jef- 
ferson Davis visited Bragg's camp, and together they climbed 
the steep and rugged ascent of Lookout Mountain, where Bragg 
had an observator3^ Davis, on casting his eyes to the north, 
beheld the great plateau of the Cumberland Mountains, the 
rough valley of the Great Sequatchie, the steep and rugged 
Waldern's Ridge, the silvery Tennessee under his feet, togeth- 
er with the long lines of the Union array; and in his imagina- 
tion, mentally exclaimed : "The Union army is mine," Turn- 
ing to Bragg, Davis said : "In my opinion the Union army 
is in a trap, and can not escape." 

On the 4th of November, Bragg committed a fatal blunder, 
which was probablv done through the advice of Davis. On 
that day Bragg sent Longstreet with 15,000 men, together with 
Wheeler's cavalry, 5,000 strong, to ojierate against Burnside at 
Knoxville, thus weakening his force 20,000 men in Grant's 
front, while at the same time he knew that Grant was expect- 
ing large reinforcements from Sherman. On receipt of this in- 
tplligence, the government became greatly alarmed for the 
safety of Burnside, and repeatedly urged Grant to move on 
Bragg. Grant himself felt great anxiety for Burnside, and 
ordered Thomas to attack the enemy's right, so as to force the 
return of the troops that had gone towards Knoxville. But 
the artillery horses were in such bad plight that it was impos- 
sible for Thomas to move a single piece of artillery, and he 
could not comply with the order. Burnside, however, felt 
contident of being able to hold his position so long as his 



THOS. H. BARTON. 171 



ammunition held out. Soon afterwards Grant learned that Long- 
street had attacked Burnside, and that the latter was slowly 
falling back on Knoxville. On learning this fact the govern- 
ment became more anxious than ever, and again renewed its 
order to Grant to attack Bragg. Grant was unable to obey the 
order, and could do nothing till Sherman's arrival, who was 
hastening, with rapid marches, to the scene of action. 

On the 22d of September, Sherman, who was encamped on 
the Big Black River, received an order from Grant to send one 
division of his corps by way of Memphis to Chattanooga. 
Osterhaus was immediately started with his division. On the 
23d, Sherman received another dispatch ordeiing him to move 
the 15th army corps to Grant's assistance, with the exception 
of one division, which was to remain at Vickslmrg. On the 
27th, he was on his way up the Mississsppi, but his progress 
was slow. There was no coal, and the transports were obliged 
to land frequently to procure wood for fuel. He reached Mem- 
phis on the 2d of October, and on the 4th his whole force came 
up. He now received orders from Halleck to proceed to 
Athens, Alabama, with the 15th corps, and as much of the 16th 
as could be spared, and to repair the railroad as he advanced, 
in order to furnish transportation for his supplies. After 
reaching Athens, he was to proceed to Bridgeport, which is 
330 miles east of Memphis. Sherman started the 15th corps 
on the 11th, and soon afterwards set out himself, with a bat- 
tallion of United States troops as an escort. These troops 
were attacked at Colliersville Station, twenty-four miles east 
of Memphis. A short engagement took place, and the enemy 
were scattered. He passed Corinth and Inca, and from Inca 
proceeded to Bear Creek, where the bridge was destroyed ; his 
head of column halted at this place till the bridge was rebuilt. 
The enemy had intelligence of Sherman's movement, and to 
obstructed his advance in every way possible. The railroad 
would sometimes be destroyed as soon as completed. After 
building the bridge across Bear Creek, Blair's division was 
sent to Tuscumbia. At Cane Creek a short engagement took 
place, and the enemy were defeated and driven beyond Tus- 
cumbia. Blair entered the town on the 27th, and on the same 
day that Sherman, who was at Inca, received an order from 



172 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Grant to abandon his work on the railroad and move his 
troops rapidly to Stephenson. Grant feared lest a force of 
Bragg's, which was at Cleveland on his left flank, might move 
to Nashville in his rear, and cut his communications with the 
north, and he wanted Sherman to beat him there in case he 
made the attempt. Grant had ordered supplies to be sent to 
Bridgeport, on the Tennessee, together with a steamboat to 
ferry the troops over. A ferry-boat was also on its way. 
Sherman obeyed this order with great promptness. Ewing, 
who was nearest the ferr^^ was the first to cross. The balance 
of the troops crossed as soon as they came up, and Sherman 
reached Florence, Alabama, the same night, while his rear 
rested on t'ne Tennessee opposite Eastport. On the same day 
Sherman was ordered to leave Gen. G. M. Dodge, with his com- 
mand of 8,000 men. at Athens, to repair the railroad leading 
from Decatur to Nashville, which, if put in running order, 
would give him two roads from Nashville to Stephenson. By 
the first of December Dodge had this road in good repair. 
Sherman proceeded to Elk River, but found it impassable at 
that point. He then proceeded up the river to Fayetteville, 
which he reached on the 13th, and found a good crossiug. He 
was now ordered to report in person at Bridgeport, which he 
reached on the 14th, and on the 15th he was in Chattanooga. 
Grant explained to him his plan of the battle about to lake 
place. Grant, Sherman, Thomas and Smith made an inspec- 
tion of the ground over which Sherman was expected to move 
his trooi)s. On the IGth, Sherman left Chattanooga to hasten 
uj) his forces for the impending engagement. 

Grant's plan of the battle of Chattanooga may be described 
in a few words. Sherman was to cross the Tennessee at 
Brown's Ferry, then march to North Chickamauga, (which 
streams flows south and empties into the Tennessee on its 
northwestern shore a few miles above the South Chickamauga, 
which flows north,) and recross the Tennessee at the mouth of 
North Chickamauga, then march to the east side of Mission- 
ary Ridge, carry its northern part, and then threaten Bragg's 
base at Chickamauga Station, which, if taken, would sever his 
communications with Longstreet, This move placed Sherman 
on Grant's left flank. In the meantime Hooker, who was al- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 173 



ready on Grant's right, and occupied Lookout valley, was to 
operate on the west side of Lookout Mountain, storm its 
highths, carry the mountain passes down into the Chattanoo- 
ga valley, cross over and make an attack on the enemy in this 
position, which would threaten Bragg's communications with 
the southwest. It was Grant's opinion when Sherman and 
Hooker were well advanced, that Bragg, in order to save his 
right flank, would weaken his center on Missionary Ridge, and 
wh'^n the opportune moment arrived, Thomas was to storm 
the center and front of this stronghold, which Bragg thought 
to be impregnable. Finally, when Sherman's advance reach- 
ed Brown's Ferry, his rear was still at Trenton, some distance 
behind. This was intended to deceive Bragg, and induce him 
to believe that the intention was to attack Lookout Mountain 
from the south. 

On the 20th, Grant received a letter from Bragg, in which he 
said : "As there may still be some non-combatants in Chat- 
tanooga, I deem it proper to notify you that prudence would 
dictate their early removal." This missive was designed to 
deceive Grant, and induce him to believe that Bragg intended 
making an attack on Chattanooga, and shell the town. On the 
ensuing day it was learned from a deserter that Bragg had sent 
Buckner with his division to reinforce Longstreet, and had 
also started another on the same mission. This letter was no 
doubt sent to delay Grant's attack till Longstreet could take 
Knoxville, and return in time to participate in the impending 
conflict. 

Grant opened the battle of Chattanooga on the 23d. Bragg's 
outer line was about one mile from Thomas' position in front 
of the town, while the pickets of the contending forces were 
only about three hundred yards apart. Earl}'^ in the morning 
Thomas moved the divisions of T: J. Wood, of Granger's corps, 
in front of Fort Wood, lying east of Chattanooga and mount- 
ing twenty-two guns. These divisions were attired in their 
best uniforms, making the appearance of a review or dress 
parade. Every eminence around Chattanooga, as well as on 
Missionary Ridge were crowded with spectators viewing the 
proceeding. At two o'clock a cannon was fired to announce 
the commencement of the battle. All along the line these di- 



174 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



visions sprang forward on the double-quick, and drove the 
enemy's pickets back on their main line. Still continuing, 
they drove the enemy from his first line of intrenchments 
before reinforcements could arrive. This move gave Grant 
possession of Orchard Knobb. Thomas immediately followed 
with his whole army, and fortified his new position. The Fe- 
derals lost 1,100 men, and the Ojnfederates about the same 
number. This attack caused Bragg to recall one brigade that 
was leaving his front, and the other would have been recalled 
but it was too far away to be of any assistance in this engage- 
ment. On the same day a brigade of Thomas' cavalry made a 
raid on Bragg's right flank, cut the railroad to Cleveland, 
burnt Tyners Station, eaptured one hundred wagons, and de- 
stroyed large quantities of military stores. 

Sherman moved from Brown's Ferry to North Chickamauga. 
At Brown's Ferry he was in plain view of the enemy on Look- 
out Mountain, but as his columns moved on they were soon 
hidden from sight, which baffled the Confederates. Howard, 
who was secreted behind the mountain, commenced moving 
south to join the main army at Chattanooga. The enemy 
mistook Howard's command for Sherman's, and this rendered 
the deception still more complete. Sherman found boats and 
pontoons awaiting him together with forty-two pieces of ar- 
tillery, under J. M. Brannon, chief of artillery. Army of the 
Cumberland ; the artillery being designed to cover the cross- 
ing. 

On the 24th, at two o'clock in the morning, the brigade of 
Giles A. Smith, 3,480 strong, embarked in 116 boats on the 
North Chickamauga, and floated quietly down to the Tennes- 
see and across this river to the Mouth of South Chickamauga, 
when a few boats landed unobserved by the enemy's pickets, 
who were taken by surprise, and twenty of their number cap- 
tured. Sherman's troops followed, and by daylight two bri- 
gades were ferried over, and commenced throtvingup intrench- 
ments. A bridge was thrown across the river, and one also 
spanned the South Chickamauga, and by noon his whole com- 
mand was on the south side of the Tennessee, together with all 
his equipments. Sherman was now reinforced by Howard's 
Cori)s fron^i the Army of the Potomac, and immediately form- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 175 



ed his line for an attack on Missionary Ridge. M. L. Smith 
was placed on the left, J. E. Smith in the center, and Ewing on 
the right, and the attack commenced. The assailants were 
favored by a misty rain which hid them from the enemy's ob- 
servation on Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Sher- 
man's skirmish line soon reached the foot of the ridge, unob- 
served by the Confederates, and commenced to ascend its steep 
and rugged acclivity, and by half past two o'clock they were in 
possession of all the northern extremity of the ridge to a point 
near the railroad tunnel on Bragg's extreme right. Sherman 
immediately commenced fortifying his position, and dragging 
up his heavy artillery by hand. Bragg was greatly alarmed at 
this move, and opened up his artillery on Sherman's exposed 
ranks. Late in the evening he made a more serious attack, 
but without success ; and night put an end to the battle at this 
point, leaving Sherman in possession of the point gained. His 
line now extended from the northern extremity of this ridge to 
the mouth of the South Chickamauga, which was held by a 
brigade under Jefferson Davis, of the Army of the Cumberland, 
whose duty it was to protect Sherman's pontoons, and prevent 
the ingress and egress of citizens. 

While these operations were going on to the east of Chat- 
tanooga, Hooker was engaged on the west. He had three 
divisions ; Osterhaus's, of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennes- 
see ; Greary's, 12th corps. Army of the Potomac; and Cruft's, 
14th corps, army of the Cumberland. Hooker formed his line 
as follows : Greary was placed on the right at Wauhatchie ; 
Osterhaus on the left near Brown's Ferry; and Cruft in the 
center. Hooker's command was on the west side of Lookout 
Creek. The east side of this creek was heavily picketed by the 
enemy, with three brigades of troops in the rear to reinforce 
them if attacked. These brigades, under the command of 
General C. L. Stevenson, occupied the summit of the moun- 
tain. The summit is a palisade for more than thirty feet down 
against the assault of any number of men from the position 
occupied by Hooker. 

General Grant says : "The side of Lookout Mountain con- 
fronting Hooker's command was rugged, heavily timbered, 
and full of chasms, making it difficult to advance with troops,' 



176 



AUTOBIOGRAPHV OP 



even in the absence of an opposing force. Farther up the 
ground becomes more even and level, and was m cuH.vaUon. 
On the east ride the slope is more gradual, and a good wagon 
road zig^aging up it, connects the town of Chattanooga w.th 

^'^Ortheteirof arable land the enemy had erected powerful 
works, and in some places rock were piled up m his front 
Zhile lower down were his rifle pits. The summit of the 
mountain was well fortified, and the picket line on the east side 
TLookont Creek was also intrenched. The bajUe commenced 
bv Gross' brigade of Cruffs corps moving up to the ra Iroad 
bridge which spans Lookout Creek, where, af^r a sJ.ght sk.r- 
m ist he effected a crossing, closely followed by Osterhau 
The est of Cruffs corps joined Greary, who tnoved a short 
distance up the creek to effect a crossing. The enemy, not 
observ ng Greary's movement, filed down the mountain to 
their rfle pits, in order to prevent Osterhaus from crossing, 
while ttl'e s:me time Greary crossed the creek, surprised the 
Tne ny's pickets, who held the opposite shore, and captured 
he Jhole squad of forty men. Greary '-™f .f 'y^-^ 
menced to ascend the steep and rugged '^°~^Jl'2o 
while Gross held the railroad crossing until O^terhaus came 
un and by eleven o'clock a good bridge was constructed, and 
he'crossed over. The whole force then moved np the moun- 
1, wUl, Greary in advance. His men were fomie^ a 
right angle with the enemy's works, which were taken in f^. nk 
and rear and the Confederates soon gave way, losmg l,oOO 

;risoner;. Hooker's troops ^">' P--«» f ^^^ ^f"™!': 
enemy before them. Greary's troops reached he "^P<^'-;1»P^ 
of the mountain at twelve o'clock, noon, and the lest ot the 
01 me drivinf the Confederates in 

troons were soon abreast ot nim, uriviuo uuc 
adva'ice It was Hooker's intention for «- troops o halt 
and reconnoiter the ground over which they '-f \° f;/^';,; 
but instead of doing so they pressed forward w h tl e utmo t 

!r:;;noith'^^deofthemountai„^^ 
which crowns the summit, his iett resiing on 

■:'Graut's Memoirs, Vol. 2, page 70. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 177 



Creek. The enemy held the summit. An eye witness says : "At 
this juncture the scene became one of most exciting interest. 
The thick fog, which had heretofore rested in dense folds upon 
the sides of the mountain, concealing the combatants from 
view, suddenly lifted to the summit of the lofty ridge, 
revealing to the anxious gaze of thousands in the valleys 
and on the plains below a scene such as is witnessed but 
once in a century. General Greary's column, flushed 
with victory, grappled with the foe upon the rocky ledges 
and above him the enemy driven back with slaughter from 
his works. While the result was uncertain, the attention 
was breathless and painful ; but when victor}'^ perched upon 
our standards, shout upon shout rent the air. The whole army 
with one accord broLre out into joyous acclamations. The en- 
thusiasm of the scene beggars description. Men were frantic 
with joy, and even Gen. Thomas himself, who seldom exhibits 
his emotion, said involuntarily, 'T did not think it possible 
for men to accomplish so much.' " The combatants were 
fighting above the clouds. Grant and Thomas, who were 
stationed on Orchard Knob, could only catch an occasional 
glimpse of this battle, which was one of the most grand and 
picturesque engagements ever fought on this continent. 

Hooker continued to advance his lines, and skirmishing 
was kept up till a late hour. Grant now had a continuous line 
commencing on Lookout Mountain on his right, and extend- 
ing across the Chattanooga Valley ; thence to the mouth of 
the South Chickamauga ; thence to the Northern extremity 
of Missionary Ridge, to a point near the railroad tunnel. 
Firing continued to a late hour in the night, but it was not 
connected with an assault at any point. Late in the afternoon 
Grant telegraphed to Washington : " The fight to-day pro- 
gressed favorably, Sherman carried the end of Missionary 
Ridge, and his right is now at the tunnel, and his left at 
Chickamauga Creek. Troops from Lookout Valley carried 
the point of the mountain and now hold the eastern slope 
and a point high up. Hooker reports 2,000 prisoners taken, 
besides which a small number have fallen into our hands from 
Missionary Ridge." On the ensuing day the President re- 
plied : " Your dispatches as to fighting on Monday and Tues- 



178 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

day are here. Many thanks to all. Remember Burnside.'' 
And Halleck also telegraphed : " I congratulate you on the 
success thus far of your plans. I fear that Burnside is hard 
pushed, and that any further delay may prove fatal. I know 
you will do all in your power to relieve him." 

Thus ended the fighting on the second day, at and around 
Chattanooga. The troops slept on their arras, prepared to re- 
new the engagement. 

The morning of the 25th of November. 1863, opened bright 
and clear, and the whole field of battle was in full view from 
Orchard Knobb. It remained so throughout the day. Bragg's 
head-quarters were in full view from the position occupied by 
Grant and Thomas, and the Confederate staff officers could be 
seen coming and going constantly. 

Grant's orders, which had been issued at midnight, were for 
Sherman to attack at daylight. Hooker was to move at the 
same hour, and endeavor to intercept the Confederate retreat, 
if he had gone, then to move directly to Rossville, and oper- 
ate against the left rear of the force on Missionary Ridge. 
When Sherman and Hooker were well advanced, Thomas was 
to make a final assult on the rebel stronghold. 

Early in the morning, Hooker moved the 8th Kentucky 
regiment, together with a detachment from some other regi- 
ments, up the steep palisades of Lookout Mountain ; but on 
reaching the summit, nothing was to be seen but deserted 
camps. The stars and stripes floated triumphantly to the 
breeze on the summit of Lookout, and were hailed with delight 
by Grant, Thomas, and the whole army of the Cumberland. 
The enemy in his retreat had burned the bridge over Chicka- 
mauga Creek, and obstructed the roads, in order to retard the 
Federal advance. Hooker moved early in the morning, but 
was detained four hours crossing the Chickamauga Creek, and 
thus was lost the immediate advantage that Grant expected 
from his forces. His attack on Bragg's flank was to be the 
signal for Thomas' assault on Missionary Ridge ; but in con- 
sequence of the obstruction in his way, Hooker did not reach 
his destination till four o'clock in the afternoon. 

The ground which Sherman had carried on the 24th was 
almost disconnected from the main ridge occupied by the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 179 



enemy. A low pass over which there was a wagon road cross- 
ing the ridge, intervenes between the two hills. The Confed- 
erates were iortified on the front, and farther back was a sec- 
ond fortification commanding the first. Sherman was out at 
daylight, and by sunrise his command was in motion. Three 
brigades held the hill already gained. Morgan L. Smith 
moved along the east base of the ridge, Loomis along the 
west, supported by two brigades of J. E. Smith's division, and 
Corse with his brigade was between the two, moving directly 
towards the hill to be captured. The troops advanced rapidly 
and carried theextreme end of the Confederate works. The 
enemy made strenuous efforts to check the Federal advance, 
but without success. The contest lasted two hours, and Sher- 
man now threatened Bragg's flank and stores, and forced him 
to weaken other points of his line in order to strengthen his 
right. Column after column of Bragg's forces were moved 
against Sherman, and every Confederate gun that could be 
brought to bear upon the Union forces were concentrated upon 
him. E. J. Smith with two brigades, charged up the west side 
of the ridge to the support of Corse's command, and under a 
storm of sliot and shell succeeded in reaching the Confederate 
parapet. He lay here for some time, but was compelled to fall 
back, followed by the foe ; and was driven into a wood, where 
he reformed his line, and drove the enemy back to his intrench- 
ments. 

Grant now directed Thomas to send a division to reinforce 
Smith. It had to march a considerable distance directly un- 
der the eyes of the enemy to reach its position. Bragg at once 
commenced massing in the same direction. It was now late in 
the afternoon, and long before this Hooker had been expected 
in the neighborhood of Rossville. Sherman says : "Thus 
matters stood at three o'clock P. M. The day was bright and 
clear, I had long been watching for Thomas' attack on the cen- 
ter. Column after column of the enemy were streaming to- 
wards me; gun upon gun poured its concentrated shot on my 
troops from every hill and spur that gave a view of any part 
of the ground held by me. An occasional shot from Orchard 
Knobb, and some musketry and artillery fire over about Look- 
out, was all that I could detect on our side. But about three 



180 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



o'clock P. M., I saw a white line of smoke in front of Orchard 
Knobb ; it was extending farther and farther right and left, I 
knew that my attacks had drawn vast masses of the enemy to 
me. Some guns that had been firing on me all day were now 
silent, or were turned in a different direction. The line of 
musketry fire from the Knob disappeared behind a spur, and 
passed out of sight." 

Grant now determined to move the Army of the Cumberland 
on the enemy's center notwithstanding Hooker had not as yet 
reached his destination. By a misunderstanding of Grant's 
order, Wood, who was in command of the storming party, did 
not move till four o'clock in the afternoon. Thomas' army 
had been idle spectators of the battle for the last two days, and 
were eager for the fight. They remembered the battle of 
Chickamauga. At a given signal the divisions of Wood and 
Sheridan sprang to their feet and moved across the interven- 
ing space of one and a half miles on the double-quick, heed- 
less of the shot and shells which were thinning their ranks. 
They soon reached the enemy's rifle-pits at the base of the 
ridge, and drove the troops in front of them so rapidly, and 
followed them so closely, that rebel and Union troops went 
over the first line of works almost at the same moment. Many 
Confederates were captured and sent to the rear, and those 
who were not captured retreated, and were pursued. Without 
awaiting further orders, or stopping to reform, on our troops 
went to the second line of works ; over that and on to the crest 
thus effectually carrying out Grant's orders for the charge. The 
pursuit continued until the crest was reached, and the men 
were seen climbing over the Confederate barriers at different 
points in front of both Wood's and Sheridan's divisions. The 
retreat of the enemy was precipitate, and the panic so great 
that Bragg and his officers lost all control over their men. 
Hundreds were captured and thousands threw away their arms 
in their flight. 

Sheridan pushed forward until he reached the Chickamauga 
River at a point above where the Confederates crossed. A 
second hill in the rear of Missionary Ridge was occupied by 
the enemy, probably to cover the retreat of the main body and 
of the artillery and trains. Sheridan pushed his men forward 



THOS. H. BARTON. 181 



up this second hill slowly and without attracting the attention 
of the men placed to defend it, while at the same time he sent 
detachments to the right and left to surround the position. 
The enemy beat a hasty retreat, leaving artillery, wagon trains , 
and many prisoners in our hands. Grant, who had been at 
Orchard Knobb throughout the day, now mounted his horse 
and rode to the front. Thomas also left about the same time. 
Sheridan on the extreme right was already in pursuit of the 
enemy east of the ridge. Wood accompanied his men on 
horseback, but did not join Sheridan in the pursuit. The Con- 
federates, who confronted Sherman, now seeing everything to 
their left giving way, also fled. Sherman's reserves, Davis' 
division of the Army of the Cumberland, was directed to push 
over the pontoon-bridge at the mouth of the Chickamauga 
and move forward to Chickamauga Station ; and Howard was 
to move up the stream about two miles to an old bridge, repair 
it during the night, and follow Davis at four o'clock in the 
morning. The balance of Sherman's command was to follow 
Howard at daylight, and move on the railroad towards Grays- 
ville. 

Hooker, as already stated, was detained at Chattanooga 
Creek by the destruction of the bridge at that point. Leaving 
his artillery to follow when the bridge should be rebuilt, he 
pushed forward with the remainder of his command. He came 
upon the flank of the enemy at Rossville ; but they could 
make but little resistance, and as many of them as could do 
so escaped. Many prisoners, however, were captured. Hooker's 
position during the night of the 25th was near Rossville, ex- 
tending east of the ridge. 

Grant had in this engagement 60,000 men ; Bragg had about 
half that number, but his position was supposed to be im- 
pregnable. Grant's total loss in this campaign was 5,616 men, 
of whom 757 were killed, 4,529 wounded and 330 missing. 
Bragg lost 3,859 killed and wounded, and 6,141 were taken 
prisoners, making a total loss of 10,000 men, it being about 
one-third of his entire army. He lost forty guns, sixty-nine 
artillery carriages and caissons, and over seven thousand 
small arms. 

A circumstance that distinguishes the brittle of Chattanooga 



182 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

is that the organizations were not kept together under their 
respective commanders during the engagement. This was 
caused by the accidents growing out of the heavy rains and 
the sudden rise in the Tennessee River. Hooker, on the right, 
had Greary's division of the 12th corps, array of the Potomac ; 
Osterhaus' division of the l5th corps, army of the Tennessee; 
and Cruft's division of the army of the Cumberland. Sher- 
man had three divisions of his own army, Howard's corps 
from the army of the Potomac, and Jefferson C. Davis' di- 
vision of the army of the Cumberland. But no confusion 
arose from this disposition of the troops. There was no 
jealousy — scarcely any rivalry. All were animated with a 
sentiment of patriotism. They saw a defiant foe surrounding 
them, and accepted every move as intended to dislodge him, 
and it mattered little under whom they were placed, e!0 that 
the end was accomplished. 

Undoubtedly, this was the best planned and the best exe- 
cut'^d campaign on the Union side thus far during the war. 
Grant, on assuming command of the department of the Missis- 
sippi, immediately opened up his comniunioations, and as it 
were, at once had the army well supplied with rations and cloth- 
ing and the starving animals were also well supi)lied with forage. 
He surprised Bragg in every move he made, and when the final 
move was made, Bragg did not know what his intentions were. 
He did not know Sherman's intention when the latter crossed 
the Tennessee at Browns Ferry, in plain view of the Confeder- 
ate pickets on Lookout. Bragg thought that Sherman's 
attack on Missionary Ridge was the main point of attack, and 
that it was Grant's design to turn his right flank, and that 
Hooker's attack on Lookout Mountain was to distract his at- 
tention from Sherman. Bragg acted precisely as Grant de- 
sired him to ; that is, he weakened his center to save his right, 
and thereby lost the battle of Chattanooga. The Confederate 
government acted unwisely in sending Longstreet, their ablest 
general, on an expedition against Knoxville, while at the same 
time they knew that Grant was expecting heavy reinforce- 
ments from Sherman. A second and fatal mistake was made 
in sending Buckner to reinforce Longstreet, when (in attack 
was daily expected from Grant. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 183 



It is reasonable to suppose that if Bragg could have driven 
Grant from Chattanooga, Knoxville would have fallen into his 
hands without a struggle. Moreover, if Longstreet could have 
captured Knoxville, and Bragg had lost Chattanooga, as he 
did. then Grant would have immediately recaptured the former 
place. The Confederates, having both Knoxville and Chatta- 
nooga in view, lost both places. Great credit is due to Rose- 
crans for his masterly campaign in opening this gateway to 
the Southern Confederacy ; to Thomas the nation owes a debt 
of gratitude for holding open this gateway till Grant took 
command, and to Grant himself for his successful campaign, 
which was instrumental in making him lieutenant general, 
and destined him to be the leader of our victorious columns 
to Appomattox. 



CHAPTER XL 



RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE — PERSONAL AND REGIMENTAL. 

Chattanooga being now secure to the National troops beyond 
any doubt, Grant immediately turned his attention to reliev- 
ing Knoxville. Prior to the battles, he had made preparations 
for sending troops to the relief of Burnside at the very earliest 
moment after securing Chattanooga; and General Granger, 
with the 4th corps reinforced to 20,000 men, was to start the 
moment Missionary Ridge was carried. Two small steamers 
were put in condition to run, and one of these was loaded with 
rations and ammunition, and was to move up the Tennessee 
River to the mouth of the Holston, keeping abreast of the 
troops. Grant himself followed Bragg as far as Gra3'sville, 
and on the 29lh of November returned to Chattanooga. Find- 
ing that Granger had not only not started, but was very 
reluctant to go. Grant sent word to Sherman, who was at 
Graysville, informed him of the situation, and directed him 
to march to the relief of Knoxville. 

Longstreet had made slow progress in his march towards 
Knoxville. He had depended on the country to feed his 
army ; but bis bread bad to be supplied from the wheat in the 



184 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



sheaf and corn in the shock, and his men were poorly supplied 
with clothing, tents and blankets. On the 14th he reached 
Houghf's Ferry, six miles below Loudon, where he crossed the 
Tennessee. 

Burnside had marched to Loudon, with the intention of 
holding Longstreet in check until Grant had secured Chatta- 
nooga, and could come to his relief. On Longstreet's approach 
Burnside fell back to Cambell Station, where a severe en- 
gagement took place, and he was compelled to fall back within 
the lines of Knoxville. Longstreet followed, and on the 17th 
made an attempt to carry the place by assault, but failed. He 
thereupon invested the city, with the intention of reducing it 
by famine ; but in this he was disappointed on account of the 
loyal people of east Tennessee bringing supplies to the be- 
leaguered army, so that Bnrnside's stores increased instead of 
diminished. 

Sherman had sent out detachments to destroy the railroad 
between Graysville and Cleveland. This force had not returned 
when he received orders to march to the relief of Knoxville. 
His men needed rest after their long march from Memphis, 
and hard fighting at Chattanooga. But Grant had become 
satisfied that Burnside could not be rescued if his relief de- 
pended upon the movements of Gen. Granger. On the 1st 
of December Sherman put his arm^'^ in motion, and at night 
reached Athens. On the ensuing day he reached Philadelphia, 
while the cavalry kept on to Loudon, and found the place 
occupied by the enemy, who, during the night, burnt the 
pontoon bridges and ran three locomotives and forty-eight 
cars into the Tennessee River to prevent them from falling 
into Sherman's hands. The enemy then evacuated Loudon. 
On the same night Sherman sent a squad of cavalry to Knox- 
ville to inform Burnside that relief was near at hand. On 
the .^d they moved to Morgan Town, on the Little Tennessee 
River, where Sherman expected to find a good ford ; but on 
reaching the place found from two to five feet of water in 
the channel. The water was at the freezing point. Here 
he was detained in building a bridge till dark on the evening 
of the 4th. His troops crossed during the night, and on 
the morning of the 5th his cavalry brought the intelligence 



THOS. H. BARTON. 185 



that Burnside. still held the fort, but that Longstreet held 
the place in seige. 

On learning of Bragg's defeat at Chattanooga, Longstreet 
resolved to take Knoxville by assault He, therefore, on the 
29th of November, massed his columns against Fort Saunders 
on the northern side of the town, it being the key to the Fed- 
eral position. The storming party pressed forward with great 
resolution, but were met with a withering fire from the fort. 
They, however, soon reached the fort, and a few men scaled 
the works, and demanded the surrender of the garrison. They 
were dragged in and made prisoners. The assaulting force 
finally withdrew and retreated hastily, losing heavily in killed 
and wounded. This assault having failed, another column 
made the attempt, but failed also, and a third assault on the 
south side ended onl}' in disaster. In these desperate assaults 
Longstreet lost 500 men, killed and wounded. Burnside'sloss 
was comparatively small. Longstreet lay before the place till 
the night of the 4th of December, when he retreated by the 
way of Strawberry Plains. Burnside's cavalry followed him 
twenty miles, which brought them to that place, where the 
pursuit ended. 

On the 5th, while at Morgantown, Sherman learned of Long- 
street's departure. He rested his troops for a few days, and 
then returned by easv marches to Chattanooga. Granger with 
his command moved to Knoxville, and went into winter-quar- 
ters. Sherman distributed his troops at different places on the 
Tennessee, and on the Memphis t-nd Charleston Railroad, 
where they went into winter-quarters. General Grant, who 
had received the congratulations of the nation established 
his head-quarters at Nashville, and the campaign of 1863 

in the west ended. 

******* 

The 4th West Virginia Regiment, as stated in a former 
chapter, was stationed at Camp Sherman in September, 1863. 
During the last week of this month the regiment received 
marching orders, and were soon under way to Vicksburg with 
the Army of the Tennessee. On reaching this place they were 
marched aboard a Government transport, and were soon steam- 
ing up the Mississippi River with Sherman's fleet. At Mem- 



186 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



phis the regiment had a short rest, and then marched across 
the country with Sherman's army to Chattanooga, and were 
hurried to Missionary Ridge, and participated in the battle of 
Chattanooga. Immediately after this battle the regiment 
moved with Sherman to Morgan Town, and after a short rest, 
returned to Chattanooga. They were soon afterwards placed 
on board of pontoon boats, and were moved to a point opposite 
Larkinsville, Alabama. At Larkinsville, the regiment went 
into winter-quarters. At this place "the boys " had an easy 
time during the remainder of the winter, having nothing to do 
but guard duty and an occasional scout. 

During the year 1863 the service of the regiment was 
hard and laborious. They were almost incessantly either 
marching, fighting, or performing manual labor. On the llih 
of February, 1864, a part of the regiment enlisted as veterans 
for three years longer, or during the war; and remained at 
Larkinsville till the latter part of March. The balance of the 
regiment was consolidated with the 8th Missouri. The com- 
panies of the Fourth Regiment were respectively consolidated 
with the companies, of the 8th Missouri; that is Company A. 
of the 4th West Virginia was consolidated with Company A. 
ot the 8lh Missouri, etc. 

About the first of May the non-veterans received marching 
orders, broke camp, and moved to Chattanooga. They were 
in the advance as mounted infantry in the Army of the 
Tennessee under the command of McPherson in Sherman's 
march to Atlanta, Gt^orgia, and participnted in the battle of 
Rasacca, fought on the 13th, 14th and loth of May. On the 
28th, the regiment took part in the battle of Dallas in which 
the Army of the Tennessee was the chief participant. In this 
battle the regiment lost one man killed, the number of the 
wounded being unknown. On the '27th of June, the 4th West 
Virginia participated in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and 
the march was afterwards continued to Marietta, Georgia 
where they remained till their terra of enlistment was near its 
close. The non-veteran portion of the regiment were then 
placed aboard a train, and started for Wheeling, West Virginia 
to be mustered out of the United States service. When about 
midway beteween Dallas and Calhoqn the locomotive struck a 



THOS. H. BARTON. 187 



torpedo, which the rebels had placed on the track, and which 
exploded, throwing the engine off the track, and wounding a 
few men. This caused a delay of a few hours. No further ac- 
cident occurred, and they reached Wheeling in safety. They 
went into camp on Wheeling Island, where they remained till 
the latter part of August, and were then mustered out of the 
service, received their arrears of pay and bounty, returned 
home to their families, and once more became citizens of the 
republic. 

The veteran portion of the regiment, together with a few 
disabled men who were condemned for service in the South 
by surgeon's certificate of disability, left Larkinsville in the 
latter part of March, and started for Wheeling. The}' stopped 
one day at Gallipolis, Ohio, and reached their destination 
about the first of April. Ever}' soldier received a veteran fur- 
lough for thirty days, and "the boys" had an opportunity for 
a brief period, of enjoying the companionship of their friends 
and loved ones at home. 

After the expiration of their furlough, the veterans were 
transferred to the Shenandoah valley, and placed under 
General Hunter's command. Under his leadership they 
participated in the battles of Piedmont, fought June 5th, 
Lynchburg, June 18th, Kearnstown. July loth, and Snickers 
Gap, July 20th, 1864. On the 17th of August, Hunter was 
superseded by Sheridan, who was assigned to the command of 
the forces in the Middle Military Division, consisting of the 
Department of Washington, the Middle Department, and the 
Departments of the Susquehanna and Southwest Virginia, 
which it was now determined to unite under one commander- 
Under this brave general the veterans of the 4th West Virginia 
took part in the battles of Berry ville, September 3d, Winches- 
ter, October 19th, and Cedar Creek, October 21st, 1864. 

The losses of the Fourth Regiment from the fall of Vicks- 
burg, July 4th, 1863. to the date of their consolidation with the 
First West Virginia Regiment, December 10th, 1864, were as 
follows: Company A one died of disease; Company B six 
died of disease and one deserted ; Company C two died of 
disease and one was discharged for disability ; Company D 
two died of disease and two were discharged for disability ; 



188 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Company E four died of disease ; Company F one killed in 

action at Dallas. Georgia, eight died of disease and five were 

discharged for disability ; Company G seven died of disease 

and five were discharged for disability; Company H six died 

of disease and two were discharged for disability ; Company 

I one killed in action, one accidentally killed and twelve 

died of disease ; Company K eight died of disease and one was 

discharged for disability. The total loss from all causes, 

during this period, was seventy-six. 

******* 

Nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed since the terrible 
war, in which the nation had been engaged for more than four 
years, ended. The supremacy of the Government has been 
established ; all resistance to its laws and authority has been 
suppressed ; the war resulted in the complete triumph of the 
Union arms, and the flag of our country now floats in every 
precinct of the nation. The Union armies accomplished their 
duty in the preservation of the republic. Distinguished Gen- 
erals and other officers, have been received by their country 
with the honors due to those who have so well sustained the 
national character--not only for courage, activity, endurance, 
discipline and military science — but for the nobler virtues of 
humanity. The remains of other officers, who died in the 
service of their country, have been brought home to be hon- 
ored in death ; and to find their last repose among their 
friends. And the soldiers too — they who fought so nobly for 
free institutions — they have returned. Regiments that went 
forth full and fresh have returned— smitten and scathed. 

Many is the desolate hearth, to which the son, the husband, 
the father shall return no more. No kindred eye shall weep 
at his grave. He is buried with the undistinguished dead, 
who fell on the battle-field, or died in the hospital, or in the 
prison pens of the south. Four hundred thousand Union 
soldiers, it is calculated, have been sacrificed in this war; and 
more than four l)illions of money expended. And we know 
that the sacrifice of Southern life and property has been enor- 
mous. The number of Confederate soldiers, who fell in battle, 
equaled, if not exceeded, that of the Federal ; and who can tell 
how many of their women and children were killed in the bom- 
bardment of their cities? 



THOS. H. BARTON. ISO 



Let the value of money be estimated by the good it may do, 
and we shall then see that the preservation of the Union was 
well worth the sacrifice. The Southern contest has placed 
our republic in the front rank among the nations of the earth. 
No country has at any period shown braver soldiers, or better 
officers. In the reconstructed government, the Confederates 
have been restored to all their political rights and priviliges ; 
yet it is none the less true that the Union was preserved by the 
valor of our armies, and without conquest could not have been 
maintained. Five millions ofhuman beings have been liber- 
ated from bondage, and invested with the privileges and im- 
munities of citizenship. This great result has been accom- 
plished by the instrumentality of this nation, and, with pe- 
culiar emphasis. Progress may be made the watchword of 

the Nineteenth Centurv, and of the Republic of America. 
******** 

I shall now resume the thread of my personal history. On 
the 25th of September, 1863, as stated in a former chapter. I 
obtained a furlough for thirty days to visit my home in the 
north. I was treated very kindly at Camp Sherman by the of- 
ficers, soldiers and hospital attendants, and was soon on my 
way in an ambulance to Vicksburg, a distance of fifteen or 
twenty miles ; and in due time, arrived at Vicksburg in an ex- 
hausted condition. Yet I was hopeful, for I had started on my 
journey home, and thought that if I lived to reach home, and 
enjoy the refreshing air of a northern climate, and the com- 
forts of my own fireside, that in a few weeks I would regain 
my health and strength, and once more be able for duty. My 
weight was only 143 pounds, having lost thirty-two pounds. I 
now had an insatiable thirst, and would fill a pint tin-cup with 
the muddy water of the Mississippi, put a chunk of ice in the 
water, and then drink it at once. This, was repeated every 
fifteen or twenty minutes. 

I procured free transportation on a steamboat, and was soon 
on my way up the Mississippi. A few miles above Helena, 
Arkansas, the steam-boiler sprang a leak, and the boat anchor- 
ed in the middle of the river. We laid at anchor about twelve 
hours, when a boat, which was going down the river, took me 
aboard, and transferred me to a gun-boat at Helena. Here I 



190 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



remained one day, and feasted on fresh fish, ^vhich no doubt 
did me great injur3\ This was the first and only gun-boat 
that I was ever on. After remaining here about one day, I 
observed a fleet of transports coming up the river. One steamer 
landed by the gun-boat, and to my great joy, my own regi- 
ment, the Fourth West Virginia, was aboard. I went with 
them to Memphis. Here I remained a few hours, and then 
took passage on the same boat to Cairo, arriving at that place 
about the 4th of October. I took my meals at the table, pa}''- 
ing fifty cents per meal, and getting as near the worth of my 
money as any other person, on account of having a voracious 
appetite. I bought a slice of water-melon at Helena, it being 
the best melon that I ever tasted. At some point between 
Memphis and Cairo an officer took my valise, aiid relieved it of 
Carpenters Work on Human Physiology, at the same time tell- 
ing me that it was his duty to take charge of all captured pro- 
perty, and turn it over to the government. About the same 
time I met Edgar Blondin, who belonged to a regimental band 
in the army. While in his presence, I accidentally tramped 
on a fool's foot — I call him a fool because he did not have the 
sense or manners of a gentleman Notwithstanding my feeble 
condition, he threatened to strike me for this accident, but was 
prevented by the interference of comrade Blondin. Four months 
previous to this time, I could have thrown him overboard 
without exerting much of my strength. 

I slept but little during this voyage. On the approach of 
evening I would feel sleepy and worn out, but when night 
came on I would go to my room, and the sleepy feeling would 
leave me, and I would lay awake nearly all night, and on the 
approach of day I would wish for morning to come. I do 
not think that I slept more than two hours during the twenty- 
four. I arrived at Cairo, Illinois, on a cold wind}' day, and 
suffered intensely with the cold. Having remained at Cairo 
for a few hours, I took transportation on the Illinois Central 
Railroad to Ogden, where I changed cars, and then travelled 
on the Ohio and Mississippi road to Cincinnati, where I arrived 
on the following morning. There was no water-tank on the 
car in which I rode, water was brought on it every two or 
three hours, but this did not quench my insatiable thirst. To 



THOS. II. BARTON. 191 



satisfy my craving thirst, I would walk into the forward car 
among the ladies and gentlemen, go to the water-tank, and 
take a drink of ice-vvater. This was repeated at nearly every 
station, and I managed to get back to my own car before the 
train started. Boys would come aboard the train at every 
depot or large station where the train stopped, with cooked 
chickens, hard-boiled eggs, pies and fruit, of which I bought 
an abundance, and ate with a voracious appetite. At Cincin- 
nati, a "shark" met me at the depot with a horse and express, 
took me to a third-class hotel, and "sharked" me out of one 
dollar and fifty cents for his services. The land-lord, who kept 
a saloon, no doubt rewarded him with all the whiskey he could 
drink. The land lord, however, was very kind to me, and 
among other things for supper, supplied me with sausage, of 
which I ate heartily. This kind of diet did not agree with me al- 
though it was given in kindness. Since leaving the regiment, 
I had received no attention from any one until I reached Cin- 
cinnati, where every one seemed very kind to me. I was fre- 
quently asked this question. "Are you going home to be dis- 
charged?" I invariably answered the question in the negative. 
I remained one day in the city, and paid my fare of one dollar 
and fifty cents, which was very reasonable. 

My landlord, who treated me with great courtesy, procured 
transportation for me to Athens, Ohio, at half-fare, and as- 
sisted me to the depot, where I took the Marrietta and Cincin- 
nati Railroad. It was dark when I reached Athens, and not 
hearing the conductor's call, I remained in ray car, and when 
the train started, soon found that I was speeding through the 
town at the rate of eight miles an hour. I left the train at 
the next station, and took lodging for the night at a small 
hotel. The landlady prepared a sumptuous supper, of which 
late heartily. There were several gentlemen at the supper 
table, and the conversation finally turned on the subject of the 
war. The landlord did all the talking, but no one paid any 
attention to him, and I was unable to converse with him. 
Never before or since had I heard such vituperative language 
used against the government as this man used. He abused 
President Lincoln and the members of Congress. He also 
abused our military officers, calling them butchers. He was 



192 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



a "copperhead" democrat; but notwithstanding all this, he 
treated me very kindly and procured free transportation back 
to Athens.. Here I procured a driver with a horse and buggy, 
and in the afternoon he took me to the residence of Mrs. 
Lodicia Barton on Shade River. Mrs. Barton was ray aunt, 
and we reached her place about an hour after sunset. Here I 
remained over night, and feasted too heartily on my aunt's 
rich bounty. In the morning my aunt furnished me with 
a horse, and I rode to Mr. Hugh Y. Cook's residence, a dis- 
tance of two or three miles. We were cousins. I was sup- 
plied with a good dinner, and after a sumptuous meal, I felt 
very tired and worn out, and laid down on the sofa to sleep. 
A lady, who lived in the neighborhood, came in ; and observ- 
ing me asleep on the sofa, said to Mrs. Cook : "Tha: man 
looks so pale and feeble, I believe he is dead; please go and 
see if he is still breathing." Thereupon, Mrs. Cook came to 
me and found me alive ! About the middle of the afternoon, 
Mr. Cook took me in his buggy to my residence near Chester, 
and when we reached home I learned that my wife and child- 
ren were on a visit, and would be back in an hour. I reached 
home about the 9th of October. 

"Home, home, sweet home. 
There is no place like home." 

In about an hour after my arrival my wife and children re- 
turned. We had a happy reunion, notwithstanding I was a 
skeleton compared to the hale, hearty and robust soldier of 
fourteen months previous, I was overcome with joy at once 
more beholding my beloved wife and chUdren ; and was even 
glad to see the little stranger, who had taken up his abode 
with us. At first my oldest children did not recognize me as 
a father ; but appeared to take me for a "tramp" that had 
stopped at their mother's house. I was very kind to them and 
amused them in every manner possible, and in this way they 
soon came to love me. 

During m}'^ sojourn at home, my wife was very kind to me, 
and treated me with great respect, and did all she could to 
make me comfortable and hajipy. At the same time I was 
morose, fretful and gloomy. My books lay on the shelf un- 
opened. My conversation was frivolous. I refused the ur- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 103 



gent request of my wife and friends to employ a physician, 
believing that medicine would be of no avail for a person with 
an insatiable appetite and an unquenchable thirst. My diet 
was the richest food that could be procured, and my drink 
was by the quart from a "well of sparkling water" near by. 

Soon after my return, I had a professional call to see a son 
of the Rev. Moses Will. He had received an injury of the 
head, having had it caught in a cane mill. I refused to see 
the lad, thinking that I was unfit to treat a case of surgery. 
The State election took place in a few days after I arrived 
home, and I was taken to the polls in a carriage, and voted 
for John Brough for governor of Ohio. 

The thirty days of my furlough soon expired. In accordance 
with military law, it had to be extended. Gallipolis being the 
nearest inilitary post, I resolved to go there and procure an 
extension of time. Mrs. Barton procured a horse and buggv, 
and we were soon off for Gallipolis. In the evening of the 
same day we -eached my brother James' residence at Addison 
and stopped with him that night. Next day my brother took 
me to the general hospital near Gallipolis, and in due time, 
through the kindness of Dr. John Bell, acting as assistant 
surgeon of that institution, I procured an extension of my 
furlough for thirty days, signed by Gen. Sherman. On the 
ensuing day we returned home, arriving there about sundovvn. 
I was in an exhausted condition. 

During my sojourn at home I had two attacks of malarial 
fever, but easily succeeded in breaking the paroxysms. My ex- 
tension of furlough expired about the last of November, and I 
then decided to report in person to Dr. Bell, at the general 
hospital at Gallipolis. He received me as a patient in that 
institution, and I was placed under the care of Dr. Bantee for 
treatment. Next day, on his morning visit, Dr. Bantee gave 
me the following prescription : 

R TV. 0])ii Camph. 
Tr. Catechu, 5 im. 
Sig.: Take a teaspoonful every three hours. 

I used this prescription till some time in the spring, with 
some success, it being the only medicine I used, with the ex- 
ception of an occasional dose of quinine to arrest an attack of 

25 



j^94 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



the malarial intermittent fever. Some time in March, Surgeon 
Stone superseded Surgeon Bell, and took charge of the hos- 
pital. On his first visit he ordered Dr. Bantee to give me iron 
and quinine. The prescription was as follows : 
R Qidnia Sulph., Z bs- 

Tr. Ferri Chloridi, J, ss. 

Aqud Pura, ^ 'ii ss. 

Siy.: Take a teaspoonful in sweetened water three times 

daily. 
I could not take quinine in solution, and at my request the 
druggist gave me the medicines separately. I continued to 
take these medicines till the middle of July, during which 
period I slowly improved in health and strength. 

Some time during the preceding winter, I procured some 
milk, which I used as a diet for several days. I had come to 
the conclusion that milk would be better for me than the 
regular hospital diet. On learning this, Dr. Bantee furnished 
me with milk daily, and in my opinion I improved more rap- 
idly under this regimen. 

About the 1st of April I procured a pass to visit my family, 
and one afternoon took passage on a steamboat for Pomeroy, 
arriving at that place at dark. I put up at the Remington 
House, and took supper, Mr. John Dunn being the proprietor. 
He was an old acquaintance, and advised me to remain oyer 
night with him ; but I was very anxious to see my family, 
declined his kind offer, and immediately set out for my home, 
eight miles distant. I proceeded in daylight until out of the 
limits of the city. I was on Kerr's Run when night came on. 
The night was dark as ''Erebus,'' and it was almost impossible 
to see my way. And when at the forks of the road I took the 
left-hand route, which led me almost a mile out of the way be- 
fore I discovered the mistake. But when I reached the hills, I 
knew the roads, and knew where I was. The roads were muddy, 
my shoes sere light and thin, and when about half way 
home, my shoes refused to remain on my feet, and I abandoned 
them, and continued on my journey without any covering for 
my lower extremities, arriving at home about ten o'clock at 
night. My wife was surprised to see me in my nude pedal 
extremity, I was in an exhausted condition, but a cup of hot 



THOS. H. BARTON. J95 



coffee for the stomach, and a warm bath for my feet, soon re- 
vived my drooping spirits. 

Some time in the fall of 1863, my wife had rented our prop- 
erty m Syracuse, to a woman who was the wife of a s„ldier 
Report said that she kept a house of prostitution. Her hus- 
band had abandoned her. She, atdifferent times, refused to 
leave the premises, and also refused to pav the rent. After 
resting a few days I repaired to Syracuse, and gave her legal 
notice o leave the premises. To this she paid no attention 
and held on to the property. I went before a Justice of the 
reace, and summoned her on a writ of forcible detention. 
At the trial the Justice rendered a judgment of restitution in 
my favor, and I immediately procured a writ of restitution 
gave the same to a constable, who proceeded forthwith to ex- 
ecute It I accompanied him, but my virtuous tenant was 
prepared for us. She was not only well fortified, but was also 
well supplied with a store of ammunition, and prepared to re- 
sist the most formidable assault. The top of the stove was 
covered with kettles of boiling water, prepared to launch 
against her assailants. But the officer was equal to the 
emergency He quietly removed the kettles, emptied the 
boiling fluid, and then proceeded to clear the house of its con- 
tents Having obtained possession of my domicile in this 
way, I thereupon moved my family to Syracuse, bade them 
larewell, and once more reported to the hospital 

During my sojourn at this institution, a small portion of 
ray time was occupied as a druggist. I filled the phvsican's 
prescriptions When the soldiers, who were wounded in 
Hunter s raid, were brought to the hospital, it was part of my 
duty to dress their wounds. Among them was a soldier who 
nad his thigh amputated at the lower third. I removed the 
bandages which had not been touched since the limb was 
amputated, and proceeded to examine the stump, but did not 
Ike Its appearance. I was afraid of gangrene, or mortifica- 
tion Soon after this, secondary hemorrhage, or bleeding set 
in; the stump became affected with gangrene, and the soldier 
died in a few days. Dr. Bantee, asked me if I had pulled the 
cord or ligature, with which the Femoral Artery was tied 
thus loosening the cord and causing hemorrhage. I replied 
very emphatically : "No sir, I did not." ^ 



196 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Sometime in March, 1864, there was a threatened invasion 
of the Kanawha Valley by the Cenfederates. To meet this 
emergency, Surgeon Stone ordered all soldiers, who were able 
to travel and carry a musket, to proceed to the front and assist 
in repelling this invasion. I was among those whom he 
ordered to go on this expedition. Notwithstanding my willing- 
ness to do duty for the government, I refused to go with the 
squad, on account of my health, which was very poor, more- 
over, I considered the musket and the knapsack too heavy a 
load for me, after having thrown them aside for more than two 
years, and having experienced a severe attack of sickness. 
On another occasion, Surgeon Stone examined his patients for 
the purpose of sending those who were able for duty to their 
respective regiments. I was among those who were examined, 
and after the examination, he proposed to send me to my regi- 
ment at Ijarkinsville. I knew that the southern climate would 
not agree with me, and begged him to let me remain till my 
regiment returned. It was expected in a few days, and as 
soon as it arrived, I reported to Surgeon Philson, who care- 
fully examined me, and ordered me to report back to Surgeon 
Stone, which was done accordingly. He again received me 
in the hospital, where I remained till near the end of my term 
of service. • 

My brother James, on several occasions, took me in a car- 
riage to his residence at Addison. Here I enjoyed his hospi- 
tality and reviewed some of the scenes of my earlier life. I 
had studied medicine for two years under his preceptorship, 
and had always enjoyed his companionship. During one of 
my visits to his home, he was called upon, as an expert, to 
examine the remains of a young lady, who died suddenly of 
some acute disease about ten days previous. I accompanied 
him. From the appearance of the corpse, the family thought 
that life was not extinct. We proceeded to examine the 
remains, and found that the spirit had left the body ; but it 
had every appearance of a person in a profound sleep. The 
body was well preserved, and the features had the appearance 
of life. 

A soldier who was in the hospital when I was ad- 
mitted, complained of being affected with rheumatism 



THOS. H. BARTON. 197 



in one of his legs. He walked lame. The surgeons 
had abandoned all treatment of him, and probably through 
leniency kept him in the hospital. Surgeon Stone, on his 
first examination of the patient, ordered the nurses to 
make him lie flat on his back'on his cot for the space of three 
days. He was only ])ermitted to raise his body during his 
regular meals. He bore this treatment patiently till the three 
days expired, when he found that he could walk without a 
limp ; and he was immediately discharged from the hospital 
and soon afterwards reported to his regiment. Some time in 
November, 1863, a case of insanity occurred. A soldier, affect- 
ed with the measles, was admitted into the hospital ; and as a 
sequence of this disease, losi his renson. In some of his wan- 
derings he would imitate a preacher; and would sing, pray, 
preach and talk, as if he was speaking in class-meeting ; while 
at other times he would use profane and obscene language. 
He was undoubtedly an insane man. Notwithstanding his 
condition, he at all times knew every person in his ward. He 
would sometimes take umbrage at what I would say to him. 
He knew that I was a hospital steward of some regiment, and 
would frequently say to me : "Go to your hospital, and not 
stay here sponging off of us." The strangest part of his 
story is, that he soon afterwards left the hospital without leave 
of absence, went home and got married. He returned in about 
a month and was again admitted; and when he came to our 
ward, we spoke to him, and extended the hand of fellowship ; 
but he replied to every one of us, except one soldier of his 
own regiment: "I don't know you, I never saw you before." 
He soon afterwards left the hosoital, and rejoined his com- 
mand. 

Some time in the spring of 1864, I witnessed the following 
incident, together with the surgeons, hospital attendants, and 
all of the inmates who were able to walk out The husband 
of the laundress was a trifling fellow, addicted to the use of 
intoxicating liquor, spent most of his earnings for whiskey, 
and made a poor living for his family. He was also in the 
habit of abusing his wife ; and his thriftless disposition com- 
pelled his better half to support herself and familv. One day, 
after he had been abusing his wife, two of the cooks, 



198 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



who were robust and able-bodied men, took him to a 
shallow pond of water, dragged him through it twice, 
thus covering him with mud and wetting his clothing. 
After receiving this baptism of mud and water he 
looked more like an alligator standing on his hind 
feet than like a human being. Just at this stage of the pro- 
ceedings, a man who was driving a two-horse team, made his 
appearance on the scene of action, with the intention of tak- 
ing this fellow's part. The cooks, as soon as they learned his 
intention, left their victim, turned on his would-be protector^ 
gave him a few blows with their fist, which soon made the 
wagoner retreat in haste, followed by a shower of pebbles. 

The 22d day of February, Washington's birth-day, was a 
gala day for the attendants and inmates of this institution. 
A sumptuous dinner was prepared, of which we partook with 
great relish. Climbing a greasy pole was among the amuse- 
ments on this occasion, and whoever succeeded in reaching 
the top was to receive a prize. Several unsuccessful atten)fits 
were made, when one of the cooks finally succeeded, and ob- 
tained the prize for his dexterity and skill. I was among 
those who made no attempt. This was an amusing thing for 
us, and caused much merriment. During the winter, for 
reading matter, we were supplied with the H^^ly Bible and 
New Testament, together with a library of Sabbath School 
books. I would frequently read a chapter from the Bible or 
Testament, but seldom read any of the Sunday School books. 
When Surgeon Stone took charge of the hospital, he dis- 
charged the matron and laundress, and placed the Sisters of 
Charity in their stead. They removed the books, and replaced 
them with a number of implements for various kinds of harm- 
less games and puzzles. We sometimes amused ourselves with 
these im])lements. During the latter part of s|)ring and early 
part of the succeeding summer, T spent a portion of my time 
studying Anatomy and the Latin language. 

On the 15th of July, I started for Wheeling in company with 
Charles Atkinson, an inmate of the hospital, and a member of 
Company E of the Fourth Regiment, to be mustered out of 
the military service of the United States. We were conveyed 
to the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad in an express, and 



THOS. H. BARTON. 199 



arrived at the station about midnight. We then laid our 
bodies down on the bare ground without an}' shelter except 
the broad canopy of the heavens, and slept soundly till after 
daylight. In the morning we boarded the first train bound 
for Parkersburg, and arrived at that city about eleven o'clock 
that night. We applied at the hotels for lodging, but they re- 
fused to take us in, and we were compelled to sleep in the open 
air. Next day we boarded a train for Grafton, West Virginia, 
in company with a squad of soldiers, and when we passed 
through the railroad tunnel several of the soldiers exclaimed : 
''Hands on your pocketbooks, boys !" I suppose however, 
that the pocketbooks were empt}', as the pocketbooks of 
soldiers generally were. We arrived safely at Wheeling about 
ten o'clock p. m. and I felt myself about "played out," a phrase 
used for a broken down soldier. We took lodging for the 
night at a house which had been used as a prison for Union 
soldiers, who were charged with some offence against military 
law. On the ensuing day I procured board and lodging at a 
hotel where I remained a few days. One day some of the 
boarders were trying to solve the following problem. "A man 
who was driving a flock of geese to market, was asked : "How 
many geese have you?" replied : "If I had as many more, half 
as many more, and two and a half geese, I would then have 
one hundred ! How many geese had he?" I stood near them 
and listened to their conversation, while they were trying to 
solve the problem ; and when thej' had given it up, I called 
for paper and pencil, which were given me, and in two or three 
minutes, found the unknown quanity. The landlord, together 
with those present, were greatly surprised to see a person of 
my humble appearance solve such a problem in so short a 
time. It admits of an easy solution by algebra. 

Let X equal the number of geese. 

Then, .r+.r+|.r+2^100 

Or, 4.7;+.r+5=26o 

Or, 5.r=l95 

Or, r== 39, answer. 

I remained at Wheeling a few days, and then reported to 
the hospital. I prescribed for m3'self, having free access to 
the dispensary. I was not under any restraint whatever, and 



200 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



traveled around the city more or less every day. On the Sab- 
bath I attended the M. E. Church regularly, with one excep- 
tion when, at the request of Arthur Pomeroy, we attended the 
Episcopalian Church. After staying at the hospital about two 
weeks I became home sick, (nastnlgia) and seeing no chance 
of obtaining my discharge, I watched for an opportunity to 
return to my regiment, which was in the vicinity of Baltimore. 
One day I learned that a few Union soldiers, who were in 
prison, would be sent to their respective regiments. I applied 
to the Provost Marshall of the city to go as one the guards of 
the prisoners to Baltimore. He readily granted my request, 
and about the 15th of August, I relieved one of the guards, 
and was soon on my way to Baltimore, going by the way of 
Pittsburgh on account of the rebels having torn up the Balti- 
more and Ohio Railroad. I arrived at my destination in due 
time, it being about twelve o'clock noon. Immediately on ar- 
riving in this city I observed a sign on a building which read 
as follows : '^Soldiers Rcxt,'^ I thought that if there was any 
rest inside of that building I had a right to enter in and par- 
take of it. I was tired, sleepy and hungry, and on entering 
the building, found a large table spread with brown bread 
about ten days old, corned beef that had all the juice boiled 
out of it until nothing remained but bones and dry muscle 
fiber, the coffee looked as if it was half soot. However unpal- 
atable this diet was, a keen appetite compelled me to eat 
heartily. Sui)per and breakfast were about the same. When 
night came on, being very tired, I hoped to have a good night's 
rest, but was doomed to be disappointed. After walking over 
the city for some time I returned to my lodgings, and found 
a large number of soldiers on the bunks sleeping very soundl}'. 
I took possesion of one of the bunks, and laid my body down 
upon it, but found that it was already occupied by some kind 
of insects. At first I thought they were " gray backs, " 
{Perh'adus corporis) but was mistaken. They were the chinch 
or bed bug (Cinex ledidnrius.) These little pests were too 
severe for my tender flesh, and I retreated, and left them in 
peaceable ])ossession of the bunk, but an immense number 
of them clung to my clothing. I immediatel}^ left the build- 
ing and walked the streets till early dawn, occasionally sitting 



THOS. H. BARTON. 201 



on the door step of some residence to rest my weary body, 
while at the same time I was fighting and killing my diminu- 
tive tormentors until daylight, I then carefully examined my 
clothing and found my raiment free from these troublesome 
insects. It is a mj'stery how any person could sleep in such 
a bed-bug hole as this was. 

On the ensuing day I took in some of the sights of the city. 
Among them were the ships lying at anchor in the bay, some 
of these ships being loaded with ripe peaches. I also visited 
Fort McHenry, and found it a noble structure. In the after- 
noon, while strolling around the city, I met Captain William 
Grayum, of Company G, of the 4th regiment. The l)03's were 
on their way to Wheeling. I fell in with them ; we drew army 
rations, and had a " square meal," it being the best meal that 
we had had since leaving Wheeling. Next day we boarded a 
west bound train, and were off for our destination, via Pitts- 
burg, and arrived at Wheeling in due time. Soon after our 
arrival I procured blanks for my discharge. These I filled up, 
and presented them to Captain D. A. Russell, of Company E, 
who signed them in duplicate. On the 22nd of August I pre- 
sented my papers to Lieutenant Henry C. Peck, the mustering 
officer, who filled up, signed and gave me my discharge. I 
then reported to the paymaster, who, after examining my dis- 
charge, asked me if I had performed any duty after my term 
of service had expired. I informed him about my guarding 
the prisoners to Baltimore, and without saying anything fur- 
ther, he gave me my arrears of pay and bounty, and $30 for 
the last month's service. I then procured some necessary 
surgical and tooth instruments. On the2od of August, I bade 
the citizens and soldiers of the good city of Wheeling a final 
adieu, and boarded the United Stateg mail packet bound for 
Parkersburg, where I arrived about one o'clock on the follow- 
ing morning. At this place I changed boats, taking another 
mail packet for Pomeroy, and about five o'clock p. m., on the 
24th, arrived safely at Syracuse. 



202 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XL 



Roster of field, staff and company officers of the 4th Regiment 
West Virginia Infantry, showing the alterations and casual- 
ties therein, from the date of original organization to the 
date of consolidation with .the 1st West Virginia Infantry, 
December 10th, 1864. 

COLONELS. 

J. A. J. Lightburn, commissioned August 14, 1861, promoted 

to brigadier general volunteers. 
James H. Dayton, commissioned May 9, 1863, mustered out, 

expiration term of service. 

LIEUTENANT COLONELS. 

William H. H. Russell, commissioned August 27, 1861, re- 
signed. 

James H. Dayton, commissioned March 19, 1863, promoted to 
colonel. 

John L. Vance, commissioned May 9, 1863, mustered out, ex- 
piration term of service. 

MAJORS. 

John T. Hall, commissioned August 27, 1861, killed in action 

near Boone C. H., W. Va. 
James H. Dayton, commissioned October 4, 1862, promoted to 

lieutenant colonel. 
John L. Vance, commissioned ISIarch 19, 1863, promoted to 

lieutenant colonel. 
A. M. Goodspeed, commissioned May 9, 1863, killed in action 

at Vicksbnrg, 
Henry Grnyum, commissioned August 17, 1863, mustered out 

expiration term o^ service, 

FIRST LIEUTEN.\NTS AND ADJUTANTS. 

Philson B. Stanberry. commissioned August 22, 1861, honor- 
ably discharged. 

Alpheus Beal, commissioned January 26, 1864, mustered out 
expiration term of service. 

FIRST LIEUTENANT AND R. Q. M. 

Jesse V. Stevens, commissoned October 18, 1861, mustered out 
expiration term of service. 



THOS. H, BARTON. 203 



SURGEONS. 

George K. Ackley, commissioned August 26, 1861, resigned. 
John R. Philson, commissioned May 9, 1863. 

ASSISTANT SURGEONS. 

John R. Philson, commissioned November 19, 1861, promoted 

to Surgeon. 
Homer C. Waterman, commissioned May 9, 1863, mustered 

out expiration term of service. 

CHAPLAIN. 

George S. Woodhull, commissioned November 27, 1861, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 

CAPTAINS. 

Henry S. Welton, Co. A commissioned 

resigned September 1, 1861. 
Tilton B. Rockhill, Co. A commi-isioned Sfeptember 1, 1861, 

resigned November 30, 1862. 
Martin V. Lightburn, Co A commissioned December 31, 1862, 

mustered out expiration term of service. 
John L. Vance, Co B commissioned July 5, 1861, promoted to 

Major. 
Barlow W. Curtis, Co. B commissioned March 19, 1863. 
Thomas J. Smith, Co. C commissioned July 5, 1861, resigned 

November 20, 1862. 
Barney J. Rollins, Co. C commissioned December 31, 1862, 

mustered out expiration term of service. 
Arza M. ^Goodspeed, Co. D commissioned July 8, 1861, pro- 
moted to Major. 
John L. Mallernee, Co. D commissioned May 9, 1863, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 
Wm. R. Brown Co. E commissioned July 22, 1861, promoted 

to Colonel, 13th W. Va. I. 
Ephraim C. Carson, Co. E. commissioned October 4, 1862, 

resigned January 3, 1863. 
Daniel A. Russell, Co. E. commissioned March 19, 1863, mus" 

tered out expiration term of service. 
Wm. H. H. Russell, Co. F commissioned August 22, 1861, 

promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. 
George W. Story, Co. F commissioned September 1, 1861, 

resigned January 5, 1863. 



204 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



CAPTAINS — CONTINUED. 

William S. Hall, Co. F commissioned March 19, 1863, mustered 

out expiration term of service. 
Henry Grayum, Co. G commissioned July 1, 1861, promoted 

to Major. 
William Grayum, Co G commissioned August 17, 1863. 
Patrick H. Brunker, Co. H commissioned August 1, 1861, 

resigned January 5, 1863. 
Benjamin D. Boswell, Co. H commissioned March 19, 1863, 

promoted to Mnjor 2d Vet. I. 
Alexander Vance, Co. I commissioned July 10. 1861, resigned 

February 16, 1863. 
Calvin A. Sheperd, Co. I commissioned March 19, 1863, 

mustered out expiration term of service. 
James H. Dayton^ Co. K commissioned July 22, 1861, {)ro- 

moted to Major. 
James J. Mansell, Co. K commissioned October 4, 1862, 

mustered out expiration term of service. 

FIRST LIEUTENANTS. 

Martin V. Lightburn, Co. A commissioned September 1, 1861, 
promoted to Captain. 

Smith, Co. A 

resigned September 1, 1861. 

John I. Say re, Co. A commissioned December 31, 1862, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 

Wm. C. Bailey, Co. B commissioned July 5, 1861, resigned 
September 30, 1862. 

Barlow W. Curtis, Co. B commissioned December 31, 1862, 
jiromoted to Captain. 

\Vn\. II. II. Sissoii, Co. B commissioned March 19, 1863, 
mustered out expiration term of service. 

Barney J. Rollins, Co. C commissioned July 5, 1861, pro- 
'moted to Captain. 

Wm. L. McMaster, Co. C commissioned December 31, 1862, 
mustered out expiration term of service. 

John L. Malernee, Co. D commissioned July 8, 1861, pro- 
moted to Cai)tain. 

G. W. Hankinson, Co. D commissioned May 9, 1863, mustered 
out expiration term of service. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 205 



FIRST LIEUTENANTS — CONTINUED. 

Ephraim C. Carson, Co. E commissioned August 22, 1861, 
promoted to Captain. 

Daniel A. Russell, Co. E commissioned October 4, 1862, pro- 
moted to Captain. 

Philson B. Stanberry, Co. E commissioned August 22, 1861, 
promoted to Adjutant. 

James H. Ralson, Co. E commissioned March 19, 1863, resigned 
September 6, 1863. 

Edward Mallory, Co. E commissioned January 26, 1864, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 

William S. Hall, Co. F commissioned July 30, 1861, promoted 
to Captain. 

Finley D. Ong, Co. F commissioned March 19, 1863, died 
prisoner at Vicksburg May 22, 1863, of wounds received 
in battle of Walnut Hill, May 19, 1863. 

George A. Scott, Co. F commissioned August 17, 1863, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 

John DeLille, Co. G commissioned July 18, 1861, resigned 
November 30, 1862. 

Cincinnatus B. Blake, Co. G commissioned December 31, 1862, 
resigned April 3, 1863. 

Calvin L. Lightburn. Co. G commissioned August 17, 1863. 

John B. Booram, Co. H commissioned November 5, 1861, 
resigned November 11, 1861. 

Benjamin D. Boswell, Co. H commissioned December 31, 1862, 
promoted to Captain. 

H. F. Donnelly, Co. H commissioned May 13, 1862, resigned 
December 8, 1862. 

Michael Christopher, Co. H commissioned March 19, 1863, 
mustered out at expiration term of service. 

Calvin A. Sheperd, Co. I commissioned July 10, 1861, pro- 
moted to Captain. 

James W. Dale, Co. I commissioned March 19, 1863, promoted 
to Captain 2d Infantry. 

James J. Mansell, Co. K commissioned July 22, 1861, promoted 
to Captain. 

Alpheus Beal, Co. K commissioned October 4, 1862, appointed 
Adjutant. 



206 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



FIRST LIEUTENANTS — CONTINUED. 

Enoch Clice, Co. K commissioned July 26, 1864, mustered out 
expiration term of service. 

SECOND LIEUTENANTS. 

John W. Davis, Co.- A comrhissioned June 17, 1861, resigned 
December 5, 1862. 

Columbus Shrewsbur}', Co. A commissioned December 31, 1862, 
resigned May 26. 1863. 

John McDonald, Co. A commissioned August 17, 1863, mustered 
out expiration term of service. 

Barlow W. Curtis, Co. B commissioned July 5, 1861, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant. 

Wm. H. H. Sisson, Co. B commissioned December 31, 1862, 
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Alex Wartenburg, Co. B commissioned March 19, 1863, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 

Wm. L. McMaster, Co. C commissioned October 1, 1861, 
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. , 

Jesse V. Stevens, Co. C commissioned 

promoted to 1st Lieutenant and R. Q. M. 

Robert Dyke, Co. C commissioned December 31, 1862, mustered 
out expiration term of service. 

Geo. W. Hankison, Co. D commissioned October 25, 1861, 
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Adam Bratton, Co. D never mustered. 

John N. Dean, Co. D commissioned August 17,1863, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant 2d Vet. Infantry. 

Ephraim C. Carson, Co. E commissioned August 22, 1861, 
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Daniel A, Russell, Co.' E commissioned August 22, 1861, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieutenant. 

James H. Ralston, Co. E commissioned October 4, 1862, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Edward Mallory, Co. E commissioned March 19, 1863, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Finley D. Ong, Co. F commissioned July 30, 1861, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant. 

George A. Scott, Co. F commissioned March 19, 1863, promoted 
to let Lieutenant. 



THOS, H. BARTON. 207 



SECOND LIEUTENANTS — CONTINUED. 

Allen Bloomfield, Co. F commissioned August 17, 1863, 
mustered out expiration term of service. 

Cincinnatus B. Blake, Co. G commissioned July 28, 1861^ 
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 

William Grayum, Co. G commissioned March 19, 1863, pro- 
moted to Captain. 

H. F. Donnelly, Co. H commissioned November 5, 1861, pro- 
moted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Benj. D. Boswell, Co. H commissioned May 13, 1862, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant. 

Michael Christopher, Co. H commissioned December 31, 1862, 
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 

Wm, R. Malone, Co. H commissioned December 31, 1862, 
mustered out at expiration term of service. 

James W. Dale, Co. I commissioned July 10, 1861, promoted 
to 1st Lieutenant. 

Edward H. Trickle, Co. I commissioned March 19, 1868, 
mustered out expiration term of service. 

Alpheus Beal, Co. K commissioned Jul}" 22, 1861, promoted to 
First Lieutenant. 

Enoch T. Clice, Co. K commissioned October 4, 1862, promo- 
ted to First Lieutenant. 

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. 

Jas. H. Ralston, Sergeant Major, mustered July, 5, 1861, pro- 
moted to Second Lieutenant, Co. E, 

Alex. Wartenburg, Sergeant Major, mustered July 5, 1861, 
promoted to Second Lieutenant Co. E. 

William Mullen, Sergeant Major, mustered July 25, 1861, mus- 
tered out expiration term of service. 

Chas. W. Holland, Quarter Master Sergeant, mustered August 
22, 1861, mustered out expiration term of service. 

Joseph A. Walsh, Quarter Master Sergeant, mustered Febru- 
ary 11, 1864, veteran, transferred to 2d. W. Va. Vet. Inf. 

C. Shrewsberry, Commissary Sergeant, mustered August 22, 
1861, promoted to Second Lieutenant Co. A. 

Albert J. Haselton, Commissary Sergeant, mustered February 
11, 1864, veteran, transferred to 2d W. Va. Vet. Inf. 



208 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF — CONTINUED. 

Thos. H. Barton, Hospital Steward, mustered July 22, 1861, 
mustered out expiration term of service. 

W. A. Kalloussouski, Hospital Steward, mustered February 11, 
1864, veteran transferred to Regular Army, 

Peter F. Zeise, Principal Musician, mustered February 11, 
1864, veteran, transferred to 2d. W. Va. Vet. Inf. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE PRACTICING PHYSICIAN. 

The future history of my life naturally divides itself into 
three periods. The first commencing with my return from the 
military service of the United States, continues to the 1st da}' 
of April, 1874, when having disposed of our property in Syra- 
cuse, I moved my family to Indiana. It was the most prosper- 
ous period of my life. The second period covers the space of 
about seven months, and embraces my sojourn in the state of 
Indiana. The third period, commencing with my return from 
Indiana in November, 1874, continues to the present time. 

Mrs. Barton, who had charge of my finances during my term 
of service in the army proved herself a good financier, and 
made an excellent use of the money entrusted to her care. 
She had laid up money, and by the latter part of March, 1864, 
had a sufficient amount to pay for our property in Syracuse, 
together vs^ith the interest. We had previously made an 
arrangement that the deed should be made to her, provided 
she succeeded in saving money enough to pay for the prop- 
erty. Her reason for having the real estate deeded to herself 
was that, if I owned it, I would probably become involved in 
debt and finall}' lose it, whereas if the deed was made in her 
name, the property would be safe, and no one could take it 
away from us ; besides, as already stated, I had agreed that 
our home should be hers. I did this for the following reasons : 

1st. I supposed that the property would be safe in her keep- 
ing, on account of her good management of our affairs while I 
was in the army. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 209 



2d. I had formerly given my consent to this settlement of 
our affairs, as hereinbefore stated. 

3d. Life was uncertain especially to one in my feeble condi- 
tion — I expected to live but a few years — and should I die, the 
property would be hers to do with as she wished. 

4th. During the six months immediately preceding my dis- 
charge from the service, I looked to her for the management 
of all our affairs. 

Accordingly she filed her petition in the Court of Common 
Pleas of Meigs County, Ohio, against B. F. Knight, adminis- 
trator of the estate of Quartes Bridgeman, deceased, from 
whom I had bargained for the propert}^ and in due time the 
court granted her a decree, and conveyed the real estate to her 
in fee simple. 

I was now once more at home and happy in the society of 
my wife and family. I had passed through a memorable 
period of my life. I had served three years in the Union 
army, and had seen much of the southern country. My posi- 
tion as hospital steward of the 4th West Virginia regiment had 
afforded facilities for acquiring a more thorough knowledge of 
the science of medicine and the treatment of disease. I had 
improved these opportunities to the best of ray ability, and I 
now felt assured of being able to establish a successful prac- 
tice. My wife, as already stated, had been economical in the 
management of our domestic and financial affairs ; our prop- 
erty was fully paid for, and my future prospects were now 
brighter than ever they had been before. I resolved to seize 
upon the golden opportunity to thoroughl}' devote myself to 
my chosen profession, and by industry and economy secure a 
competence for myself and family. 

Meanwhile the village of Syracuse had greatly improved. 
During my absence many new residences had been erected. 
Property was valuable. The Syracuse Coal and Salt Company 
was in a prosperous and flourishing condition. The coal in- 
dustry, in which this company was extensively engaged, had 
never before been so prosperous. The miners were being paid 
five cents a bushel for mining coal, and the remuneration of 
the wage workers was proportionately high. Money was 
abundant; but the price of the necessaries of life far exceeded 

27 



210 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



that of the ante helium times. Coffee was sold in the retail 
market at fifty cents a pound ; tea two dollars a pound ; com- 
mon sugar twenty tn twenty-five cents ; bacon thirty to thirty- 
two cents, and pickled pork twenty to twentj^-five cents a 
pound. Fresh pork sold at fifteen dollars per hundred, and 
fresh beef from twenty to twenty-five cents a pound. CaUco 
was forty-five cents a yard, and muslin sold from fifty to sixty 
cents a yard. Worsted goods, however, was much cheaper. 
Gentlemen's clothing was very cheap in proportion to the 
price of other articles, and a substantial suit of clothes could 
be purchased at from fifteen to thirty-five dollars. I bought 
9, suit of good broadcloth clothes in the city of Wheeling for 
twenty-five dollars. 

Prior to the war, as I have already stated in a former chap- 
ter, I had selectsd the town of Syracuse as my permanent lo- 
cation. I felt grateful that my term of service in the army 
had exi)ired, and that I was once more a citizen of the great 
republic, and immediately began preparations to resume my 
chosen profession, feeling assured of being able to build up an 
extensive and lucrative practice. I found my former friends 
well pleased when they found that I had relocated at this 
place. In a very few days I was ready to resume my practice. 
It was a sickly season, and I soon established myself in busi- 
ness. My practice soon extended to Minersville and the 
adjacent country. At Minersville and in the country, I vis- 
ited my patients on horseback, carrying the leading medi- 
cines with me. In the course of a few months, I had all the 
practice that I was able to attend to, but had my health been 
good, I could have done more. During the first year I had a 
fair share of the practice, both at Syracuse and Minersville, 
and also in the adjoining rural districts. The business in- 
creased more rapidly at Minersville than it did at Syracuse or 
in the country. In the former place it continued steadily on 
the increase till about the year 1S69, at which time I had about 
two-thirds of all the practice, which continued in about the 
same proportion till the 1st of April, 1874. At Syracuse, I 
had, on an average, about one-third of all the medical practice 
to the date above mentioned. This brings me up to the period 
of my removal to the state of Indiana. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 211 



During this time I did not have the field of practice to my- 
self. Doctors Joseph and Samuel Bean had located at Syra- 
cure prior to the war, and had established themselves in their 
profession. After my return from the arm}', I found Dr. Joseph 
Bean with an extensive practice and doing a large business. 
A poor man said to me that he, meaning Dr. Bean, " had feath- 
ered his nest so well that he would not attend to poor people 
at night." He remained here four or five years, in the mean- 
time doing a very fair business. Dr. Samuel Bean was not re- 
garded so skillful a physician as his brother, and did not have 
as much practice. He remained here several years after his 
brother moved away. 

Dr. Samuel Bean, howevjer, was a great inventor, and invented 
and patented some kind of a machine for stripping sugar cane. 
He also built two or three houses in Syracuse. He was quite 
a genius, and was very active and energetic. About the year 
1870 he built a steamboat to navigate the waters of the beauti- 
ful Ohio, and everyone thought that Robert Fulton had come 
to town. His steamboat, however, proved a failure, and it 
was afterwards sold and converted into a floating grist mill 
for the accommodation of the small farms along the Ohio. 

Dr. Samuel Bean was succeeded by Dr. H. C. Teters. In the 
estimation of a number of persons. Dr. Teters was regarded as 
a skillful physician, and he had a fair amount of practice at 
Syracuse and vicinity. He left this place in the spring of 
1872. These doctors belonged to the Physio Medical School 
of Physicians, and practiced that system of medicine. One 
of their favorite prescriptions was a composition powder of 
which capsicum (Cayenne pepper) was the base, mixed with 
other ingredients. A strong decoction was made from a table- 
spoonful of this powder, and given to the patient. 

In November 1872, Dr. J. B. Smith, a regular physician, loca- 
ted at S3'racuse. At first Dr. Smith did not succeed well in his 
professional business. His practice, however, gradually in- 
creased to the period of my removal to Indiana, at which 
time he had established himself at this place, and had a good 
reputation as a physician and surgeon, and was doing a very 
fair business. Several other physicians, who lived at Racine, 
Pomeroy, and Middleport, were sometimes called to Syracuse 



212 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



to see the sick. There were Dr. J. B. Ackley of Racine, Dr. 
George K. Ackley of the same place, and afterwards of 
Pomeroy. He was a son of Dr. J. B. Ackley, and was a 
very skillful physician. He was the Surgeon of the Fourth 
West Virginia Regiment. Dr. J. W. HofF of Racine, after- 
wards of Pomeroy. Dr. HofF had considerable practice at 
Syracuse. At first the Ackleys and Dr. HofF were my consult- 
ants. Dr. George K. Ackley generally consulted with me in 
surgical and obstetrical cases ; the others in common or 
ordinar}^ diseases. Dr. J. R, Philson, Racine, and Dr. D. C. 
Rathburn, of Middleport, also did business at Syracuse, and 
were among those who consulted with me. Dr. Rathburn 
generally in surgical cases. Dr. C. R. Reed of Middleport 
and the hit" Dr. Isaac Train, of Pomeroy, were occasionally 
called to this place. I did not consult with the Beans, but in 
civil affairs we were friends. I was once called in consulta- 
tion with Dr. Teters, and consulted with him on account of 
the case being an urgent one. We relieved the patient in 
about an hour after my arrival. Dr. Teters moved awa}^ from 
Syracuse in the spring of 1872. 

From September 1864, to the first of April 1874, my practice 
continued about the same at Syracuse and Minersville. During 
this period I had three cases of fracture of the thigh bone> 
(femur) several cases of fracture of the fore-arm, (radius and 
ulna) a few cases of dislocation of, and fracture near the 
elbow joint, and one case of amputation of the thumb, and a 
part of two fingers. In another case I amputated a finger on 
account of a poorly treated case of fellon or whitlow. I also 
had a number of flesh wounds which I treated, and in all these 
cases met with very fair success. In one case of an injury at 
the elbow joint, I did not have the best success. On one occa- 
sion a lad about twelve years old was brought to me, who had 
sustained an injury at the elbow joint, the bones being broken 
as well as out of place at the elbow. I set the broken bones, 
and applied splints and a bandage. The lad was brought to. 
me regularly every day for the space of one week, and his arm 
examined. Meanwhile, his mother was constantly urging me 
to leave off the dressing, and at the end of this time she 
stopped bringing the boy to me. The result of this was a 
stiffened ioint. or incomnlete or nartinl. Ani>bvlosis. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 213 



The following case, in which I did not have success explains 
itself. I was called to see a coal miner, who had sustained a 
severe injury about the ankle joint. I proceeded to examine the 
case, and found the ankle swollen to such an extent that I 
could not make out the contour of the joint. The foot was 
turned outward, (everted.) After examining the case for a few 
minutes, I stopped the examination in order to meditate in re- 
gard to the nature of the injury. I was suddenly interrupted 
in my meditations by a man who was present, and who asked 
me the following question : "Do you know what is the matter 
with his ankle?" I replied that I did not thoroughly under- 
stand it, and thereupon a number of those who were 
present commenced conversing with each other in a lan- 
guage which I did not understand. Presently one of 
them said to me: "If j^ou don't know what is the 
matter with the joint, we will send for a doctor who" 
does." To this sarcastic proposition I made no reply, 
but said : "My treatment would be to straighten the 
foot in a line ivilh the other parts of the limb, apply a single splint 
to his ankle and leg, then reduce the swelling after which it 
would be more easy to understand the trouble. I have empha- 
sized the important part of the treatment. They immediately 
started a messenger for a doctor loho did know. I then told them 
to apply cold water to the parts affected till the inflamation 
and swelling were reduced, when it would be easy to make out 
the nature of the injury. I then left the case and went to my 
residence near by. 

The physician who was sent for was absent from home, and 
a young student of medicine was sent in his stead. The 
young practitioner was soon at his bedside, and examined the 
injury, and pronounced it a sprain and ordered the volatile 
liniment to be applied to the injured ankle. Next morning the 
physician arrived, examined the case, and the diagnosis was a 
severe sprain of the ankle, and he then took full charge and 
treated the case almost six weeks. The result of this treat- 
ment was to reduce the swelling and inflamation ; but the 
patient had no use of his ankle, and could not stand up- 
on it. 

One day, while in Minersville, I met Dr. D. C, Rathburn, who 



214 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



was on his way to Syracuse to see this patient. He desired 
me to accompany him, and assist him in treating the case. I 
gave him the history of it so far as I know, and at first, refused 
to see the case ; but he strongly insisted that I should go with 
him, and I at length waived all objections and went with him. 
We proceeded to examine the injured ankle, and as the swel- 
ling was now nearly gone, it was very easy to make a diagnosis. 
We found the outer and smaller bone of the leg (Fibula) broken 
at a point about two inches from its lower end. The fragments 
were easily adjusted. In the absence of Dr. Rathburn I treated 
the case, and in about one month after Dr. Rathburn's first 
visit the fracture was found to be united and this gentlemen 
was able to walk without a halt. 

I was called to see Jacob Henry who was shot and mortally 
wounded by Calvin Runnion, about the 1st day of January, 1866 . 
I have mentioned Mr. Henry in a former chapter as being a 
desperate character in Syracuse. He was very quarrelsome, 
and figured prominently in a great many riots and disturb- 
ances, and was frequently arraigned before an officer of justice 
for breaches of the peace. He also had the reputation of be- 
ing quite a Lothario among the fair sex. Upon examination, 
I found two gun-shot wounds in the lower part of one of his 
legs, and another in the upper part of the thigh of the same 
leg (the femur). The latter missile entered near the trocan- 
ter major. I removed the two balls from the lower ]iart of the 
leg, but the other missile could not be found. Intlamation 
soon set in in the cellular tissues. Dr. G. K. Ackley was called 
in consultation, and he examined the wound, but could not 
find the missile. Mr. Henry died in about ten days after sus- 
taining this injury. The autopsy showed that he had been 
shot from behind, and that the missile had passed around to 
the front part of the thigh bone and then entered the pelvic 
cavity under the pubes. There had been severe inflamation 
of all the parts in the pelvic cavit}', and in all probability the 
wound was necessarily fatal. 

Mr. Runnion was indicted in the Court of Common Pleas of 
Meigs county for murder, but was acquitted by the jury. It 
was shown at the trial that Henry had maintained criminal 
copnectiops with Runnion's wife, 



THOS. H. BARTON. 215 



I was the first physician called to the bedside of Robert 
Snowball, who was stabbed and mortally wounded on the 
night of the 24th of January, 1874, by Robert Hemsley. Upon 
examination, I found about one dozen wounds on the surface 
of his abdomen, more than one-half of these cuts having pene- 
trated the abdominal cavity. The caul, or omentum, was 
protruding in some places. The case being a grave and seri- 
ous one, I called Dr. J. B. Smith to my assistance, and he gave 
it as his opinion that Snowball was seriously if not fatally 
wounded. On the ensuing day at the request of some friends 
and neighbors, Dr. Isaac Train of Pomeroy, was sent for, and 
he kindly came to our assistance. We then examined the case 
together, but could do nothing for the injured man, excepi 
palliative treatment. Mr. Snowball lived ten days after sus- 
taining these injuries. He retained his mental faculties to the 
last moment, and made his last will and testament, disposing 
of his property. The autopsy showed that the stomach had 
been penetrated once, the small intestines in six places, one 
portion of his intestine being nearly severed by the knife. 

Mr. Hemsley was indicted in the Court of Common Please 
of Meigs county for murder ; and was found guilty by the jury 
of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced to im- 
prisonment for life in the Ohio penitentiary. After serving 
about nine or ten years, he was pardoned by the Governor of 
Ohio from all further confinement. 

The following is one of the most remarkable cases that ever 
came under my treatmont. On the 25th of April, 1869, Stella 
Guise, a daughter Charles Guise, of Minersville, and about 
four years old, fell over the balustrade from the upper porch 
of a two-story building. She struck the ground about two 
feet below the lower floor of the {)orch. and altogether fell a 
distance of about fifteen feet. I was immediately calUnl to 
treat the little sufferer, but found no serious injury. There 
was only a mild attack of concussion of the brain, and some 
slight bruises. 

Another remarkable case occurred during the succeeding 
harvest of the same year. A lad about eight years of age fell 
from a wagon loaded with grain in the sheaf, and after he 
yeached the ground, one of the wheels of the wagon ran over 



216 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

him, passing over the center of the abdomen. I was called 
to treat the case, and to my grest astonishment found no seri- 
ous injury. 

It is noc the design of these pages, as I have already stated 
in a former chapter, to mention the numerous cases that fell 
under my treatment, or to weary the reader with minute de- 
tails of medical practice. The above cases in surgery will be 
sufficient for the period under review, and the following cases 
in medical practice will cover the ground up to May 1st 1874. 

The summer of 1866 was an unhealthy one, malarial fevers 
and cholera being the prevailing diseases. Some time in the 
summer of that year, a messenger came to my residence about 
ten o'clock at night, stating that my services were immedi- 
ately required at Minersville to see a man who was dying 
with the cholera. My wife urged me not to take the case, 
saying at the same time : "The man is dying with the cholera, it 
will be of no use to see him." She further said : "Some per- 
son may break into the house during your absence." Not- 
withstanding her protest, I was soon on my way to the bed- 
side of the dying man, taking the precaution, however, to 
secrete all the money we had in the house. I was soon at his 
residence and found him dying with the cholera, as the 
messenger had stated. I ordered palliative treatment, and 
then left the poor fellow to his fate, and proceeded slowly 
home, at the same time meditating on the uncertaint}'^ of life 
and the certainty of death. I continued my meditations till 
in sight of my residence. It was now midnight, and a bright 
light was seen in the front room, which was an unusual 
thing at that time of night. A window sash of tlie drug 
store was raised, a large jar holding it up. At the same mo- 
ment I observed a lady in her night clothes crossing the 
street in the direction of my residence, and when she recog- 
nized me, exclaimed : "Doctor there are robbers in your 
house!" I spurred my horse sharply, and a few jumps took 
me to the hitching post, and on my way to it, saw a large jar 
on the ground under the window. I dismounted, ran into the 
house, and found my wife terribly 'frightened. She informed 
me that a man came to the window, raised it, and placed the 
jar under it. He then reached in and took another one, and 



THOS. H. BARTON. 217 



succeeded in getting his body about half way through the 
window, when her screams frightened him away. Her screams 
also aroused the neighbors who came to her assistance. The 
late M. A. Hudson, and his son Lewis A. Hudson, who had 
commenced the study of medicine under my preceptorship, 
were among those who came to her rescue. I never learned 
who the depredator was. 

Soon after this, while riding through Minersville, I was 
called to see a lad about eleven years old, whom I found in a 
state of collapse, and he was also delirious. On the table lay 
a large water-melon, and the brothers and sisters of the sick 
child were partaking of its delicious pulp with great relish, 
but paid no attention to their sick brother. I failed to obtain 
a history of the case, and as malarial fever was very prevalent 
at the time, I could not make a diagnosis. I at first thought 
from his cold extremities, that it was a malignant attack of 
malarial fever ; but it was not long till I found that I had 
another case of cholera. I immediately informed the family 
of the danger, and had them send for the child's father, who 
was performing some labor on the public highway. I did all 
that lay in my power to relieve the little sufferer, but my 
efforts were useless; he never rallied, and died on the ensuing 
day. The family did not know that there was anything serious 
till I informed them. In less than one week after the death of 
this child, his sister had an attack of the same disease, and a 
physician who resided in Pomeroy was called to treat the case- 
He abandoned the patient on the second visit, and I was then 
called, and found her in the collapse of epidemic cholera- 
She was dilirious, and it required several persons to hold her 
in her bed. Treatment was of no avail, and she died on the 
following day. 

An old gentleman about eighty years of age also came under 
my treatment for cholera. Medicines were of no avail and he 
died in a few days. About the same time Robert Cambelb 
Esq., of Minersville, died of the same disease. He had been 
eating very heartily of green beans, which no doubt hastened 
his death. He was treated by two eminent physicians of 
Pomerov, but only lived about six hours after he was taken 
sick. 

28 



218 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

There were five cases of cholera at Minersville, including a 
gentleman named Winterstein, who was treated by a physician 
from Pomeroy. All of these cases proved fatal. The town of 
Syracuse was free from this epidemic. 

The following case is reported on account of its severity and 
novelty, but I do not do so for bravado or braggadocio : An 
old gentleman had eaten more tlian a pint of the fruit of the 
black haw [vUnirnum prunifolvum) The fruit of this shrub is 
astringent, tenacious and very adhesive. The result of this 
feast was a severe attack of constipation and impaction of the 
bowels. On the following day I was called to see the patient, 
and found him suffering with severe pain in the region of the 
stomach and bowels. On questioning him as to the cause of 
his trouble, he informed me that he had eaten more than a 
pint of this fruit. The seeds and rind were firmly lodged in 
the lower part of his bowels, thereby for the time being, form- 
ing a complete obstruction of the rectum. The obstruction 
was nearly as large as a goose egg, and was apparently im- 
movable. Having exhausted my skill trying to relieve him, I 
called Dr. J. R. Philson, of Racine, to my assistance. Dr. 
Philson exan.ined the case with me, but his advice failed to 
be of any benefit to the patient, it being only palliative treat- 
ment. I then sought the counsel of Dr. G. K. Ackley, who 
also examined the case in my presence, but his advice was of 
no avail. The old gentleman continued to grow worse, and 
his friends sent for Dr. Thompson, of Pomeroy, who saw the 
patient in my absence, and administered a drastic cathartic. 
This only increased his agony, and the result of this treatment 
was that I was called in the night to the bedside of the suf- 
ferer. I now ex{)ected to lose my patient, and did not think 
that he could live more than two or three days. Asa last re- 
sort, 1 placed him u|)to his arms in a large l)arrel filled with 
water, the water being heated to about 110 degrees. He re- 
mained in the water about an hour, when he experienced great 
relief. The result of this treatment was that his wife had the 
satisfaction of counting 700 seeds of black haws ! She could 
have counted moi'c. l)ut in some way lost the run of the count. 
His recovery was complete. 

On one occaBioii I was hastily called by a gentleman resid- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 219 



ing at Minersvilee to see his wife, who was sick. On our way 
to his residence I learned the history of her case. The hus- 
band told me that his wife had been affected with the jaundice, 
accorapanied'with nausea and vomiting; that her skin was hot 

and dry, also of a deep saffron color. Dr. had been 

treating her two weeks, and about an hour ago said that 
she would soon be well, and that it was not necessary to make 
any more visits. That the doctor had then made out his bill 
for his services, received his pay, and abandoned her in this 
condition. On arriving at her bedside, I found her husband's 
statement true. I treated the case about one week, when I 
considered the patient out of danger. I have not reported this 
case as a matter of bravado, but to show my readers that a 
physician who is in the habit of looking upon "the wine when 
it giveth its color in the cup. when it moveth itself aright," is 
not to be trusted in dangerous cases of sickness. 

The major portion of the many physicians, with whom I 
consulted treated me with respect. The code of medical 
ethics requires that when one physician is called in consulta- 
tion with another, that the consulting physician, as soon as 
the necessary examination has been made, shall retire, and 
leave the case again in the care of the one who was regularly 
employed. The patient has a right to discharge his attending 
physician, and employ another. If, however, the attending 
physician is not discharged, another has no right to step in and 
take the case. In stating that the major portion of the physi- 
cians with whom I consulted treated me with respect, I mean 
that they did not violate this rule of medical ethics. A few 
of them, however, did violate it. Some were willing to con- 
sult with me provided the patient or his friends desired a con- 
sultation, and when called in, would take charge of the case, 
as if I had nothing to do with it; and, on taking charge, 
would even request me to prescribe for the patient in their 
absence. In some cases, if the patient or his friends did not 
wish a consultation, they would take charge of the case, not- 
withstanding I had not been discharged. I seldom retaliated; ■ 
but in the following instance I had an opportunity to do so, 
and probably overstepped the bounds of medical etiquette. I 
was not in the habit of treating a cage after some other physi^ 



220 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF . 

. I 

cian had been employed, except in consultation, or in case the 
attending phj^sician was discharged, or the patient was a near 
relative. 

On one occasion Dr. Teters was called to see a child affected 
with pneumonia. In all probability he was called to treat this 
case on account of some difficulty that had arisen between 
our family and the family of the patient. The children did 
not agree, and there had been a number of little brawls 
amongst them, as there frequently are among neighboring 
children. Dr. Teters treated the child about three days, when 
its parents came to the conclusion that it was not improving 
as rapidly as it should, and sent to Pomeroy for another phy- 
sician. The doctor came and prescribed for the patient, but 
did not visit it again. Meanwhile its parents gave the medi- 
cines regularly ; and at the expiration of another three days, 
a well known lady of Syracuse came to my office and said : 
''I believe the child is dying. Please come and see it at once ; 
it may be that you can do it some good." To this request my 
wife objected ; and Mr. Lewis Hudson, who was studying medi- 
cine under me, also demurred to my taking charge of the 
case. Their principal objection was that a ph^'sican of Pome- 
roy had been sent for. However, I resolvedto visit the patient. 
I was smoking a pipe when called, and in my haste, put the 
lighted pipe in my coat pocket, and had to extinguish the fire 
before seeing my new patient. Upon examination I found the 
child in the collapse of pneumonia. The treatment was cor- 
rect, but the medicine had been given one day longer than was 
necessary'. It being now late, I advised them to send early in 
the morning for the Poirieroy physician, but when morning 
came they refused to do so. The child was out of danger in 
two days from the time I saw it. After this I was regularly 
em})loyed as the family physician of this child's parents. 

During this period of my practice at Syracuse, I met with 
fair success; but in a large number of instances, in which 1 
was successful, my skill was not appreciated,' and I did not 
receive the })raise tiuit was justly mine. On the other hand, 
if I lost a case, I was accused of incompetency, and a large 
number of persons would come to the conclusion that I did 
not understand the science of medicine. I will report one 



THOS. H. BARTON. 221 



case of the former character. An old gentleman, who resided 
in the suburbs of the village, was suddenly taken with spas- 
modic colic, and I was called in the night-time to see him. 
I obeyed the call, gave him some medicine, and some applica- 
iioDS over the stomach and bowels, and gave him the neces- 
sary instructions. There is no doubt that he followed my ad- 
vice ; and in less thiin twenty-four hours he was relieved. 
Nevertheless I failed to become this man's family physician. 
I could report a number of cases of the latter character. 

About the year 1866, J. A. McBride took to his bed with 
malarial fever. His mother sent for a well-known physician 
of Syracuse, but found him sick, and unable to take the case. 
He informed her that his disease was typhoid fever ; but T do 
not believe that the physician had this fever, as all of my 
cases were malarial, especiall}^ near the river. This is why I 
was called to treat the case. I had my patient up and able to 
be out of the house in three or four days, while the doctor 
kept his bed over two weeks. As soon as he was able to be 
out, a respectable lady of this place, who was then about to be 
confined, sent a horse and carriage to convey the doctor to her 
residence in order to treat her. It is my opinion that he did 
not understand the science of obstetrics. 

About the year 1872, I was called to see a man who was 
affected with the intermittent malarial fever. He was a carpen- 
ter, and had just returned from Huntington, West Virginia. 
He informed me that he was taken with chills and fever about 
five weeks prior to my visit. He had been troubled with a 
severe chill ever}' day, followed by a hot and burning fever, 
then by a profuse sweat. He also inf')rraed me, that a physi- 
cian residing at Huntington had been called to treat him, and 
had given him about a quart of hot tea of some kind to take 
in time of the fever, and on the well day about the same 
quantity of some other kind of tea. That the chills would 
last about an hour and a half. At every visit, the Huntington 
doctor had assured him that he would soon stop the chills. 
He had continued this treatment until his money was almost 
gone, and then returned home. When I arrived at his resi- 
dence, I found him "shaking." He complained of feeling 
very cold, and said that his head and bones were aching, 



222 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



and begged me to arrest the chill if I could. I am not in the 
habit of doing much in the cold stage of the intermittent 
fever, but as his suffering appeared hard to endure, I resolved 
to make a trial. I wrote a prescription and sent it to my 
wife, who put up the medicine, I administered the medicine, 
and in about fifteen minutes after he had taken it, he ex- 
claimed : "Doctor, you have cut this chill in two." This 
paroxysm was not followed by the usual fever. I continued 
to treat the patient for a few days. Meanwhile he improved 
rapidly, and did not have another return of this disease. This 
case is not reported for bravado, but to show the difference 
between rational and irrational treatment. In this case I did 
not gain a reputation as a physician. My patient was a poor 
man, and his influence did not extend beyond the limits of 
his own family. 

On one occasion I was treating a lady who resided near 
Syracuse, and who was dangerously ill. On one of my morn- 
ing visits, I prescribed some medicine for her and the prescrip- 
tion was given to two lads about twelve years old, together 
with twenty-five cents to pay for the medicine. Herhusl)and, 
who was a trifling fellow, observing the boys as they started 
to the drug store, told them to give him the money and the 
prescription, as he could be more expeditious than they. The 
husband then went for the medicine. Late in the afternoon I 
again visited my patient, but nothing had been heard of either 
the boys, the prescription, the money or the medicine. Her 
husband had been absent during all that time. Late in the 
evening he was brought home intoxicated. He had been to a 
saloon and spent the mone}^ which was needed to preserve his 
companion's life. During his drunken spree he lost his little 
dog, which took up its abode with me. I thus became the 
owner of a rat terrier. , 

In those days I rode fast horses, and would sometimes 
travel with great rapidity. On some occasions, as I would 
ride rapidly past a dwelling-house, or meet or overtake a friend 
or acquaintance on the road I would be hailed with : " Doc, is 
any person sick? Who is sick?" while others would ex- 
claim : " Doc, what is the matter, you are riding in such 
haste? " I would usually reply : " The horse is in a hurry." 



THOS. H. BARTON. 223 



Before closing this chapter, I shall relate a few cases of 
superstition that fell under my observation. There are some 
persons who are naturally superstitious, and Syracuse is not 
entirely free from that class of individuals. About the year 
186G, Thomas Grady and John Duflfy were employed in haul- 
ing timljer for the Syracuse Coal and Salt Company, and while 
in the forest, a strange apparition made its appearance, in the 
form of a man about as tall as a giant. He was clothed in the 
skin of some wild animal, and would utter a loud and piercing 
shriek. On beholding this giant, Grady and Duffy with one 
accord unhitched their horses from their respective wagons, 
mounted the horses, rode to town in great haste and raised an 
alarm. They reported that this strange being was about eight 
feet tall, and was clothed in the skin of some wild animal, and 
that his steps were long strides, four or five feet in length. On 
learning this a large number of men repaired to the spot where 
the strange monster had been seen. Diligent search was made, 
but he could not be found. They succeeded, however, in find- 
ing his tracks, which were different from those of any other 
animal, making a round hole in the ground. The excitement 
lasted several days, and this strange being took the name of 
the " Wild Man " of Syracuse. 

In the course of my narrative, I have several times men- 
tioned Jacob Henry, and he was among those who went to in- 
vestigate the matter, and was very active in searching for the 
monster. This, however, was wholly unnecessary on the par; 
of Mr. Henry, for he himself was the "wild man." He had made 
a pair of stilts to add to his height, and this accounts for the 
holes in the ground. He had clothed himself in some show 
bills on which were engraved the pictures of animals, and he 
no doubt presented an ugly appearance. As soon as he saw 
the teamsters unhitching their horses, he made his way rapidly 
back to town, and reached there before they did. He was then 
prepared to assist in searching for the wild man. Grady and 
Duffy were terribly frightened. About two months afterwards 
Mr. Henry told the joke. 

During the excitement, my brother-in-law, Aaron Parsons, 
was at my residence, and he had brought a rifle with him. 
Before he started for home, my wife said to him : "Aaron, 



224 AUTOBIOGRAPHY (iF 



you had better be careful on your way home, for the 'wild man' 
may get after you !" He replied : "If he comes out as I go 
home, he will be my meat." Aaron was not easily scared. He 
had been in the Union army for four years, and no doubt some 
of the "Johnnies" had been a target of his trusty rifle. 

On one occasion, Joshua Quillin, who resided near Syracuse, 
called at my office, about ten o'clock at night and requested 
me to visit a sick child at his residence. I obeyed the call, and 
when we had gone about two hundred yards, Mr. Quillin said : 
"Doctor as I was coming in I saw a spirit." He was not a 
timid or fearful man, but was inclined to superstition, and 
beheved in supernatural objects. He continued: "It has 
been seen there for the last twenty years, but it was never 
known to harm any person. Probably we may see it as we go 
along." I asked him to explain its appearance. "It appears," 
said Mr. Quillin, "in the form of a bright light, and if you ad- 
vance towards it, it will vanish." The place where .this sup- 
posed spirit had been seen, was a suitable one, at least in the 
minds of superstitious persons, for spirits, ghosts and hobgob- 
lins to make their appearance. A small brook flows through 
a ravine past the place, and on either side is a grave-yard, 
situated on the brow of a small eminence. The locality is 
dark even on moon-light nights. As we passed along, I was 
determined to investigate the matter, and if possible, ascertain 
the cause of the light. It did not, however, make its appear- 
ance. Having examined and prescribed for my patient, I was 
soon on my way home, and when near the haunted place 
I looked forward through the gloom, and saw a bright light 
apparently on the ground. I approached it, and his ghostship 
disappeared. I stepped back to my former point of observa- 
tion, and it again became visible. I moved backwards, again 
it disappeared. I stepped forward to my first position, and the 
bright light was once more visible. It was a moon-light night, 
and the light appeared in the shade of some trees. I had deter- 
mined to solve the mystery, and science soon came to my as- 
sistance. It was the image of the moon shining in the water. 
On moon-light nights, when there is water in the brook, any 
person standing in the proper position, can see the light. The 
angles of reflection and refraction are equal, and when the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 225 



light from the angle of refraction meets the eye, the image of 
the moon can be seen reflected from the water. 

During this period I lost one case of obstetrics. This was 
the first case of that character in my practice that terminated 
fatally, and superstition was one of the factors which caused 
her death. A lady whom I had treated in her confinement, 
was kept by her husband in a close room, the windows and 
doors being kept closed day and night. It was in the month 
of October; the weather was moderately warm, and a large 
fire was constantly kept burning in her room. Her bed was 
closely curtained, and her bedding was sufficient for extremely 
cold winter weather. The result was that she was kept in a 
continuous perspiration. This was done against my orders, 
and the urgent protest of the neighbors who visited her. 
Finally she was taken with fever, caused by close confinement 
in a warm room. One dark night about eleven o'clock, her 
husband came to my office, and desired me to see his wife im- 
mediately. He said that she had just been terribly frightened 
by a loud and fearful noise, heard in the upper story of the 
house, and that he and his wife believed it to be a token of her 
death. I went with him, and on the way informed him that 
there was nothing supernatural in the strange noise, and that 
it could be explained in a natural way. I suggested that 
there might be rats in the upper story, or that some bricks 
might have fallen off" the chimney. He replied : "The noise 
was too loud to be made by rats, or bricks falling from the 
chimney." Disputing with him was like arguing against a 
trade wind — he failed to be convinced. I saw nothing unusual 
however, as we approached the house. Upon examination, I 
found that his wife appeared much worse, and she was of the 
same opinion as lier husband, and could not be convinced that 
the strange noise was other than a token of her death. On 
the following morning it was found that the top of the chim- 
ney was missing. It had fallen, and the rattling of the bricks 
on the roof had caused the alarm. The lady died in a few 
days after this severe fright. 

About the year 1870, 1 became a member of the Meigs county 
Medicial Association, of which society I am still a member. 
The name of this organization was afterwards changed to the 



226 AUTOBIOCIRAPHY OP 



Meigs County Medical Society. Some years afterwards, I also 
became a member of the Meigs and Mason County Academy 
of Medicine. This society held its meetings at night. The 
members finally became tired of night meetings and the or- 
ganization was abandoned. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. 

In the beginning it was given to man that he should "have 
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the 
air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." 
Nothing was said in regard to the nature or extent of his 
dominion over his fellow-man. In all civilized communi- 
ties, however, there must be some kind of government, and 
there must be those who are invested with attributes of 
power and authority. There is a natural disposition m al- 
almost everv person to exercise this authority. It is inherent 
in human nature. There is a natural desire in nearly every 
individual, as far as his capacity and ability extends, either to 
make or execute the laws in regard to his fellow-men. I am 
free to admit that I was not entirely exempt from this 

desire. 

At the spring election to be held in April 1867, there were 
two Justice^, of the Peace to be elected in Sutton Township ; 
one to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Robert Cambell. 
Esq whose death by cholera I have already mentioned ; the 
other to fill the place of William H. Nease, Esq., whose term 
of office would expire sometime in April. A Jarge number ot 
the citizens of Syracuse urged me to be a candidate for this 
important office. Among those who took an active part in 
my candidacy was the late M. A. Hudson, and he urged me to 
accept the nomination. I did not desire the office, as I was then 
very ignorant in regard to the laws of the land, as well asthe 
mode of conducting law-suits, having spent the previous eigh- 
teen years of my life in the study and practice of medicine. 
However, I finally waived all objections, and consented, irre- 
spective of i)olitical parties, to have my name presented before 



THOS. H. BARTON. 227 



amass convention, which was to be held at the school house in 
Syracuse on the first Monday in March. The delegation from 
the Nease Settlement had decided to cast their votes in the con- 
vention for the present incumbent, W. H. Nease, who had 
proved to be an excellent Justice of the Peace. Those from 
Miners ville, almost to a man, came prepared to vote for Jacob 
Hortenbach, an intelligent and influential German of that 
place, and it was expected that I would receive the almost 
unanimous support of the Syracuse delegation. I was now 
about to enter upon an entirely new phase of my checkered 
career. T had never taken any part in nominating conven- 
tions and was not familiar with the schemes and devices which 
are practiced by the politician. 

The convention met at seven o'clock p. m. on the sixth of 
March. There was a large delegation from Minersville, as 
there wefe also from Syracuse and the Nease Settlement. It 
was almost unanimously conceded that W. H. Nease should 
be nominated as one of the candidates.. This left it a sectional 
strife between Syracuse and Minersville as to whether Mr. 
Hortenbach or myself would receive the nomination. The 
convention was finally called to order by the chairman, and 
after the usual preliminaries, the names of the candidates were 
announced, and the balloting commenced. Considerable 
excitement prevailed while the voting was going on. 'Squire 
Nease was a favorite with all sections. Minersville, almost to 
a man, voted for their candidate, while nearly all of the Syra- 
cuse delegation voted for me. The tellers then proceeded to 
count the ballots. W. H, Nease had received a large plurality 
of all the votes cast. Mr. Hortenbach came next, while I 
stood third on the list, having received a few votes less than 
the latter candidate. Mr. Nease and Mr. Hortenbach were 
then declared the nominees of the convention. 

Soon after this convention was held, Mr. M. A. Hudson, to- 
gether with a number of the prominent citizens of Syracuse, 
desired me to come out as an independent candidate for the 
justice's office. I finally consented to let them use my name 
as a candidate. I did not relish the idea of electioneering for 
myself. I had never tried to influence any person to employ 
me as a physician, and I did not like to solicit the votes of my 



228 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



neighbors for an office. However, I notified the citizens of 
Sutton township of my intention. Louis A. Hudson and 
Henry Dailey nssisted me to write out my ballots, and we 
associated 'Squire Nease's name with mine. These tickets were 
distributed throughout the township, so as to be used at the 
polling places on the first Monday in April. I was at the polls 
very early in the morning with a large number of ballots for 
distribution among the electors, and I was assisted in this 
work by a number of influential citizens of Syracuse. Mr. 
Hortenbach was also on hand with his friends and backers, it 
being, as I have already stated, a sectional strife between the 
two places as to which should secure the election of their 
candidate. There was a large vote polled at Syracuse precinct, 
the whole vote being about 287. Of these, Mr. Hortenbach 
received about 150, and about 137 ballots were cast for myself. 
When the ballots were counted out, I came to the conclusion 
that I was defeated. There were two voting precincts in the 
township, and Racine was yet to be heard from. Early on the 
following morning a messenger arrived from that place, stating 
that ten votes had been cast for Mr. Hortenbach, and that I 
had received the remainder. This gave me a large majority 
in the township. 

In about two weeks after the election I received my commis- 
sion from the Governor of Ohio, and with this document in 
my possession I repaired to the capitol of Meigs County, and 
was sworn into office by 0. B. Donnally, clerk of the Court of 
Comm.on Pleas. Having given the required bond, I was now 
prepared to discharge the duties of my office. In the mean- 
time I had purchased -a copy of Swan's New Treatise on the 
Statutes of Ohio, together with blank forms for state warrants, 
summons, subpoenas, etc. My next move was to procure 
the docket, statutes and other books and papers of my prede- 
cessor. The law provides that upon the death or resignation 
of a justice of the peace, the books and papers belonging to 
his office shall be delivered to the nearest justice in the town- 
ship. I therefore proceeded to the office of 'Squire Nease, in 
order to obtain these important documents, but he informed 
me that only a part of them hijd come into his possession, 
and that he knew nothing about the rest. Next day I went 



THOS. H. BARTON. '229 



to Minersville and made inquiry about them, and learned that 
they were in the possession of Jacob Schreiner, a well known 
merchant and prominent citizen of that place. I then went to 
his place of business and demanded the books and papers, 
but he refused to deliver them into my possession, giving as a 
reason that he was security for Mr. Cambell, and feared that 
he would have to pay a certain sum of money that had arisen 
out of some irregularity in 'Squire Cambell's official transac- 
tions, and that he would hold the books and papers until the 
matter was settled. I then sought the advice of the prosecut- 
ing attorney of Meigs county, who advised me to go again to 
Mr. Schreiner, and demand of him the books and papers, and 
if he refused to let m^ have them, threaten to replevy them. 
I did according to this advice, and thus obtained the docket, 
but Mr. Schreiner refused to deliver the documents, and 
when asked for them replied : " I put them in the fire and 
burned them." The Avhole of his proceedings shows a 
stubbornness of will on the part of Mr. Schreiner. He was 
afterwards elected trustee of Sutton Township, and served one 
year. 

I was now ready for the office to which I had been elected, 
but was poorly prepared to discharge my duties. I knew com- 
paratively little about the laws of Ohio, or the mode of con- 
ducting a Justice's court. The law books which came into my 
possession were almost useless. Swan's old Statute never 
came into my possession. A number of the annual volumes 
of the laws of this State had been preserved, and passed into 
my hands. These were all the law books that were furnished 
to me. Swan and Critchfield's Statutes were not given to the 
Justices. I had purchased Swan's Treaties on the Statutes of 
Ohio, which was an excellent work for Justices of the Peace in 
civil cases, but was almost useless in criminal proceedings. 
This made that part of my labors very difficult to perform. 

I experienced some difficulty in distinguishing the various 
classes of crimes and misdemeanors, for they were not clearly 
defined in Svvan's Treaties. In certain cases of minor offences, 
the justice had exclusive jurisdiction : that is, he could try a 
case of this charactor, impose the penalty, or discharge the de- 
fendant according to the testimony. In another class of mis- 



230 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



demeanors, the justice should try the case, and on a plea of 
guilty, could impose the penalty ; but if the defendant did not 
plead guilty, the justice should hear the testimony, and either 
discharge the defendant from custody, or it the evidence was 
sufficient, he should order the defendant to enter into a recog- 
nizance with sufficient surety, for his appearance before the 
Probate Court, or the Court of Common Pleas of the county 
in which the misdemeanor was committed ; and if he failed to 
enter into such recognizance, it then became the duty of the 
justice to issue a mittimus remanding him to the jail of the 
county, there to await the setting of the proper court. In cer- 
tain cases of misdemeanor, the defendant had a right to elect, 
or choose, as to which court he would be recognized before. 
The higher classes of crimes were more clearly defined, and 
were much more easily managed. In consequence of not having 
the plain law before me, I would sometimes make a mistake 
in the mittimus or recognizance by ordering the defendant to 
appear before the wrong court. 

In the 3^ear 18r39, the criminal code of Ohio was revised by 
the Legislature, and fifty sections of the old law were amended 
or repealed, so that the former laws were void. These repealed 
laws are referred to in the Statutes by the number of the sec- 
tion. Two cases, which were tried before me, failed in the 
higher court on account of the charge being based on these 
repealed laws. One of these cases was for challenging to fight 
a fisti-cufls. 

In 1869 the State furnished me with Swan and Sailor's Sup- 
plement to the Statutes of Ohio, containing the laws from 1860 
to 1868. This book was of great service to me in my official 
capacity, but it did not supply all that I needed. 

Soon after obtaining Swan and Sailor's work, I received a 
letter from Rol)ert Clark & Co., law publishers of Cincinnati, 
Ohio, informing me that, as a justice of the peace, I was en- 
titled to the Statutes of Ohio, and that the trustees of town- 
ships had a right to furnish them to the several justices of 
their respective townships. On the first opportunity after re- 
ceiving this letter, I made a demand of the trustees of Sutton 
township lor the Statutes, but they peremptorily refused to fur- 
nish me with these important books. I think the trustees did 



THOS. H. BARTON. 231 



wrong in thus refusing these books, thereby trying to compel 
me to purchase them. The price of the statutes was twelve dol- 
lars, which was a small matter to the township* but it was a 
considerable sum to a person in my financial condition. 

Toward the close of my first term of office, I purchased War- 
ren's Ohio Criminal Law, of the edition of 1857. This work 
was designed to aid Justices of the Peace and Mayors in the 
discharge of their official duties. It was a splendid work in 
its time, but after eleven years, it was almost obsolete and of 
very little value. 

My first civil cases did not terminate favorably. I mean by 
this that I lost my fees in these cases, and they were afterwards 
dismissed in the Court of Common Pleas. About half a 
dozen suits were planted by citizens and employees againat the 
Carleton Coal Company. This company was engaged in 
mining coal, and their place of business was situated on tbe 
Ohio river just below Syracuse. The compnny was straight- 
ened in its finances, and was about to make an assignment. 
Hence these suits. I think some of these cases were com 
menced after the assignment had been made. John Cart- 
wright, a prominent attorney of Pomeroy, was employed as 
counsel for the plaintiff's in one of these cased. The others 
appeared without counsel. A man named Nichols was 
the agent or manager of the company, he was summoned 
to appear on their behalf. I do not think that Mr. Nichols 
appeared at the time appointed for trial in any of these cases, 
and I therefore rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. 
These judgments were all carried to the Court of Common 
Pleas on a "Petition in Error," that is, there was supposed to 
be some error or irregularity in my proceedings. They were 
continued from one session to another for about three years, 
and were then thrown out of court on a nolle proseqtii. This is 
a Latin phrase, and means in law : "To be unwilling to pro- 
ceed." I lost my fees in every case, and also the fees for 
making out the transcripts. The agent, when he called upon 
me for these transcripts, represented that he was out of funds, 
and by fair and apparently faithful promises, induced me to 
furnish him with the documents. In dealing with this old 
rogue, I learned a lesson which afterwards inured to my bene- 



232 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



fit. The fees for making out a transcript in civil cases, should 
be paid in cash by the person demanding the same. 

The first couple that I married were well advanced in life. 
They were not spring chickens. The groom was over three 
score years old, and the bride, who was a widow, was between 
thirty-five and forty. She was his fourth wife. I solemnized 
this marriage soon after receiving my commission, and was 
prepared for the occasion, having the marriage ritual commit- 
ted to memory ; yet I felt abashed when standing in the pres- 
ence of this gray-haired veteran of matrimony, and his blush- 
ing bride. If I now remember correctly, I joined twelve couple 
in the holy bonds of matrimony. Of these, four couples 
separated, three of whom remained separate, and one couple 
renewed the marriage relation and lived together. One gentle- 
man, who was about twenty-one, married a lady who was 
about forty-eight years of age. In another case, the groom was 
a widower about fort3'^-five, and the bride was a widow about 
forty years old. They were married at my office, and tlie 
groom came in a state of intoxication and was married in that 
condition. He was so much under the influence of liquor, that 
he could scarcely stand on his rickety legs during the cere- 
mony. I had some misgiving in regard to solenmizing the 
marriage of the last two cou})le, but the marriage licenses, 
dul}' signed b}' the Probate Judge, were in my hands, and I 
thought it my duty to make them man and wife. 

In the discharge of my official duties as Justice of the 
Peace, as in the practice of medicine, I had strong opposition. 
An old gentleman, who resided in the vicinity of Syracuse, 
had held the office of Justice for nearly twenty years, and was 
well qualified to meet out justice to his fellow-citizens. He 
desired the office himself, and was dissatisfied because I was 
elected, and he tried various plans and devices in order to 
compel me to resign and give up the office. He would gene- 
rally try to make me do something wrong, or make some 
error, while holding my courts. He was usually employed 
as an attorney for the defendant in cases which were tried 
before me, and would use every means in his power to cause 
me to make an error. I will report one case wherein he no 
doubt acted beneath the dignity of any person who had ever 



THOS. H. BARTON. 233 



plead before a Justice's Court in this State. A young lady 
about fifteen years old filed an affidavit against a colored girl, 
setting forth in her complaint that the lady of color had struck 
her fair face with her fist. Her complaint was reduced to 
writing, and signed by the complaining witness, and I 
thereupon issued a warrant for the arrest of the colored girl, 
and delivered the same to a constable. In due time the defen- 
dant was brought before me to answer the charge. This young 
daughter of Ham employed the above-named gentleman to de- 
fend her; the complaining witness appeared without counsel. 
The case being called for trial, the defendant's counsel moved 
that the action be dismissed on the ground that the defend- 
ant's name, as written in the affidavit and warrant, was not 
her true one. The name was written Elizabeth Moping, 
whereas her true name was Elizabeth Maten. I overruled this 
motion, holding that if a name in an official document is in- 
correct, that the Court had a right to supply the true name 
when known. This move having failed, the old attorney then 
tried another plan. He pointed out to me a section of the law 
found in Swan's Treatise, and requested me to read it; and 
while I was reading he pretended to be examining the papers 
in the case. Presently he handed me the warrant remarking 
at the same time : "This warrant is defective, it does not have, 
the State of Ohio at its head." I examined the document 
and found that he was correct; but it was plainly visible that 
the paper had been mutilated. Some person had torn off the 
heading. There was perfect order in the court, and several 
persons, who were sitting near me, were silent. I saw at 
once that the warrant was defective, and I finally dismissed 
the case. Alter the action was dismissed, and this "old limb 
of the law" had left my office, suspicion was aroused that he 
was the person who had mutilated this document. An exami- 
nation was made where he sat, and the fragments of paper 
containing the heading of the warrant, were found on the floor. 
This was done by this gray-haired veteran of the law in order 
to defeat justice and accomplish his ends. Since that time, 
the legislature of Ohio has passed an act making such an 
off'ence a misdemeanor, and the punishment a fine and im- 
prisonment in the county jail. 



234 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



I experienced another difBculty in the discharge of ray 
official duties, especially in criminal cases. The nearest con- 
stable was a coal miner, and he lived two and a half miles from 
my office, and would frequently be in the mines when a war- 
rant was delivered to him ; and if the case was not an urgent 
one, I would have to wait about one day before he would re- 
turn the warrant. This gave my neighbors, especially those 
who were inclined to gossip, an opportunity to learn that a 
criminal case was pending. One person would tell another, 
and the news would soon be spread abroad that a law suit was 
expected soon. On such occasions, while visiting my patients, 
I would be hailed by every person that I met with the in- 
cjuiry : "When is the law suit coming off?" The result was 
tliat when 1 held my court to try a criminal case, there would 
be a large crowd of all ages and sexes present to hear the trial. 
Such was the desire of the citizens of this place to be at these 
trials, that on some occasions. I would have as large an assem- 
bly as is generally present on the first day of a session of the 
Court of Common Please. The street in front, and the garden 
in the rear of my office, would sometimes be crowded with idle 
spectators, all anxious for admittance, while at the same time 
two or three rooms of ray residence would be packed to over- 
flowing with anxious listeners. Such large crowds of people 
were ver}' annoying to nje while holding the scales of justice. 

In the discharge of my official duties, many amusing and 
ludicrous incidents occurred, not only to myself, but also to 
the constable who served the process. On the 22nd of Decem- 
ber, 1869, complaint was made before' me that the following 
goods and chattels, to-wit: "something near eight yards of 
common factory sheeting, about one 3'ard wide, had been by 
some person, taken, stolen and carried awa5% out of the dwell- 
ing house occupied by the complaining witness; and that the 
Baid goods and chattels, as he verily believed, were concealed 
in the dwelling of one William Dent, of tlie township of Sutton 
in the county of Meigs." The complaint was reduced to writ- 
ing by rae, and I thereupon issued a search warrant, and an 
order of arrest for the defendant, and delivered the sarae to the 
constable. The officer, having summoned an assistant, went 
to the residence of the defendant, and proceeded at once to 



THOS. H. BARTON. 



search the premises for the stolen property, Mrs. Dent, the wife 
of the defendent, being present during the search. The con- 
stable searched ever nook and corner about the building, but 
could find no trace of the missing article ; and was about to 
depart, when he observed a wooden box, about eighteen inches 
square and as many deep, lying under the bed. The officer 
gave the piece of furniture a slight blow with his foot, remark- 
ing at the same time that he had not yet searched that box. 
The lady blushed, and said that the goods were not in the box. 
The constable, however, observed that he had better make the 
search, and the lady again insisted that there was nothing 
concealed there, and that it was useless to search the box. 
This aroused the constable's suspicion, and he now felt assured 
that he was on the track of the stolen goods, and informed 
Mrs. Dent that he must perform his duty as an officer of the 
law. Turning from him in disgust, the lady said : "Well, 
search it if you have to !" The constable then proceeded to 
open the box, and found — not the missing muslin, but a num- 
ber of small garments, evidently made to fit a very diminu- 
tive specimen of humanity ! The officer glanced at the lady, 
and saw in a moment what the trouble was. It is needless to 
add that no further search was made, and the warrant was re- 
turned, endorsed : ''I made search, as required by the within 
warrant. None of said goods can be found." 

My first term of office was now drawing towards its close. 
I improved myself in legal knowledge to the best of my ability 
and succeeded fairly well, considering the limited supply of 
law-books in my possession. I was a frequent attendant at 
the Court of Common Pleas of Meigs county, having two suits 
on my own account pending in that court. I was also, on 
several occasions, subpoenaed as a witness before the court. I 
was a close observer of the proceedings, as well as of the plead- 
ings of the attorneys, the rulings and charges of the Judge. 
In this way I improved my store of legal knowledge, and these 
lessons were of great benefit to me in my official capacity. 
During this term of office, I met with fair success in my 
official business, and generally gave satisfaction in meting 
out justice to my fellow citizens. About the first of March, 
1870, my friends desired me to declare myself a candidate for 



236 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

a second term. To this I gave my consent, for the reason that 
during my first term, I was not so successful as I could have 
wished, and that I was now much better prepared to discharge 
the duties ot the office, having learned much about the law, 
and the ntode of conducting a justice's court. I therefore came 
to the conclusion that I was better equipped for a second term 
than I had been for the first. 

George Duskey, Sr., of whom I shall have occasion to speak 
hereafter, had come to the conclusion that the citizens of Sut- 
ton township were tired of me, and would be glad to have an 
old and experienced person to exercise the functions of this 
important office. He was well qualified, having served as a 
justice fur nearly twenty years ; and he therefore declared him- 
self a candidate for the office. There was no nominating con- 
vention held. I did very little electioneering, and simply in- 
formed my friends and the community that I was once more a 
candidate. 

When the first Monday in April arrived, I went to the polls 
very early in the njorning, with my pockets full of tickets for 
distribution among the electors. The old 'squire was there 
also. A large vote was polled, and considerable strife was man- 
ifested while the voting was going on. The merits of the respec- 
tive candidates were freely discussed. I was present when the 
trustees and judges of the election counted the ballots, and it 
was then found that Mr. Duskey was about ten votes ahead at 
Syracuse precinct. Once more I was defeated by a small ma- 
jority in my own home, but I consoled myself with the thought 
that a "prophet is not without honor, save in his own country." 
Once more tlie result depended upon the vote at Racine pre- 
cinct, and the returns from that place showed that my opponent 
had received only ten votes. This gave me a large majority 
in the townsliip. 

Immediately aOer my re-election a case came up in which 
my old and experienced antagonist thought he had me in a 
close place in regard to the discharge of my official duties. 
It arose in this way : Soon after the election a suit was brought 
before me in a civil action, and I issued a summons for the 
appearance of the defendant. On the day set for hearing, 
the case was adjourned, and from some cause, it wns ad- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 237 



journed until after the expiration of my first commission. 
The constitution of Ohio provides that the term of office of 
justices of the peace be limited to three years. The three years 
are computed from the date of the commission. When the time 
arrived for hearing this case, I had not received my commis- 
sion for the second term. Here was a suit to be tried before 
me, and my first term of office had expired, and I was hold- 
ing no commission. The old 'squire thought that I would not 
know how to proceed in such cases. He claimed that I had 
no right to try the cause, and moved that the action be dis- 
missed. However, I had looked up the law bearing on the 
case, and found that I had a legal right to try it. The statutes 
provide that if a justice continues in office by re-election, he 
may proceed with matters pending before him in like manner as 
if his former term of office had not expired. The case was tried 
before me, and that was the last I ever heard in regard to juris- 
diction. 

During my official career several cases were tried before me 
which arose out of apparently trifling causes. On the 21st of 
July, 1870, a criminal action for an assault and battery arose 
in this way : A number of Syracuse ladies were in the habit 
of bathing in the river during the heated season. One night 
several of these ladies were performing their ablutions, and a 
number of boys from twelve to fifteen years old, repaired to 
the bank of the river, and one of them threw a rock or club 
into the river near where the ladies were. A man named 
Robert McRea, who had two daughters bathing, was watching 
the boys, and saw something strike the water near them. Mr. 
McRea, who had a piece of hoop-pole in his hands, ran to- 
wards the place where the boys were, and struck the first boy 
that he came to on the head, thereby inflicting a severe wound 
of the scalp. The young man's father had McRea arrested 
and brought before me for an assault and battery on the bod> 
of his son. James Ewing, whom I shall have occasion to 
mention hereafter, was counsel for the state, and the constable 
acted as attorney for the dafendant. It was proved at the trial 
that the injured boy did not throw anything into the river^ 
and it was also proved that McRea was guilty as charged in 
the affidavit, and I held him under bonds for his appearance 



2S8 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



before the Court of Common Pleas. When the grand jury set, 
the constable persuaded the prosecuting attorney to subpoena 
two of the ladies, who had been witnesses for the defendant? 
before that honorable body, telling him that they knew all about 
the case. What the ladies testified before the grand jury is 
more than I now know, but I do know that there was no in- 
dictment found against McRea. The constable took this turn 
to defeat Mr. Ewing,but the defendant failed to pay the ofiicer 
for his services. 

About the year 1870, a revised edition of Warren's Criminal 
Code of Ohio, was published, and I purchased a copy of this 
work at my own expense. I found it of great service to me. 

Soon after procuring Warren's Criminal Code I had an op- 
portunity of testing its merits. One day a lady came to my 
office complaining that her husband was in the habit of abus- 
ing, threatening and ill-treating her in various ways, and at 
different times. She filed an affidavit accordingly, and I issued 
a warrant for the arrest of her husband, and he was brought 
before me to answer the charge. Upon hearing the testimony, 
and having reason to believe that the charge was true, I order- 
ed the defendant to enter into bonds of one hundred dollars to 
keep the peace, and for his appearance before the next session 
of the Court of Common Pleas. He refused to enter into 
bonds, and his sons, who would have been sufficient security 
for him, also refused. They thought that if I sent him to jail 
they would be able to find some error in the proceedings, and 
secure his release before the Probate Court. His refusal com- 
pelled me to issue a mittimus remanding him to the county 
jail. His sons accompanied him to the jail. I went also in 
order to see and hear the proceedings. The defendant was no 
sooner in confinement than his sons employed an attorney, 
and had their father brought before the Probate Judge on a 
writ of habeas corpus, the object being to overrule my decision, 
and set the old gentlemen free. The case was tried on the 
merits of the papers, and they were found to be correct. He 
was once more ordered to give bonds, and at the urgent request 
of his sons, the amount was reduced to fifty dollars. The case 
never came to a hearing in the Court of Common Pleas. The old 
gentleman died under bonds, being struck down with a})oplexy. 



THOS. H. BAKTON. 239 



I was called to treat the case, but it was beyond human skill 
to relieve him. On one occasion when I visited him, he 
roused from his stupor, and recognizing me, said faintly : 
"Doctor, you hadn't ought to have sent me to jail, for this 
reason: I voted for you!^' 

One day, a lady who was the owner of a fair amount of per- 
sonal property which had not been reduced to her husband's 
possession, came to my office and made complaint in writing, 
signed and sworn to by her, that her husband, after a debauch 
at the Shrine of Bachus, and while in a state of inebriety, had 
broken the table, two chairs, one clock, two vases, one mirror, 
and had also injured the bureau. She filed her affidavit to the 
effect that he had injured and destroj'ed the above mentioned 
property, and that she was the owner thereof. I thereupon 
issued a warrant for her recreant husband, and had him 
brought before me to answer the charge, and while we were 
preparing to hear the case, the defendant gave leg-bail, and 
skipped out of the office like a soldier on the double-nuick. 
He did not, however, escape. The constable, with a posse of 
men soon corraled him, and brought him back. The case was 
now ready for trial, and after hearing the charge read to him, 
this obstreperous gentleman being asked : "Guilty, or not 
guilty !" replied : "Guilty." I then swore his companion, and 
heard her testimony as to the value of the property destroyed, 
and learned that it amounted to fifteen dollars. I therefore 
assessed a fine of fifteen dollars and the costs of prosecution, 
and made an order that the defendant stand committed to the 
jail of the county until the fine and costs were paid, or secured to 
be paid. Unfortunately her beloved husband was out of funds, 
and no one was willing to be his surety. I thereupon issued a 
mittimus remanding him to the county jail, there to remain 
till the fine and costs were paid- After he had been in this 
penal institution about one week, his wife's heart softened to- 
ward her liege lord, and she was now more anxious to get him 
out of jail than she had been to get him in. She went to the 
jailor, expressed her sorrow, and begged him to release her hus- 
band ; but the jailor informed her that he could not do so un- 
til the fine and costs were settled. She then came to me, and 
with tears in her eyes, begged me to release him. I sympa- 



240 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



thized with her in her dire extremity ; but was compelled to 
inform her that the case was now beyond my jurisdiction, and 
that I could do nothing for her. After her husband had been 
in limbo about two weeks, she applied to the County Auditor, 
who, being satisfied that the fine and costs could not be col- 
lected, wrote an order of release. The jailor, on receiving this 
order, opened the iron doors that confined her husband, and 
he was once more a free man. This was an excellent lesson 
to both of them ; and, so far as I know, they afterwards lived 
together agreeably. At any rate, I never heard of his breaking 
or destroying any more of her property. 

One bright Sabbath morning, in the summer season, I seated 
myself to rest, and made my calculations to spend the day 
quietly with my family. In this, however, I was doomed to 
disappointment, for it turned out to be the most busy, as well 
as the most profitable day of my life. A married lady who 
resided at Minersville, came to my office that morning about 
eight o'clock, and desired a warrant for an old gentleman living 
in that quiet village, who, in violation of law, had sold her 
husband liquor to be drank on the premises where sold. She 
filed an affidavit to the above charge, and I issued a warrant 
for the defendant to be brought before me to answer the charge 
of allowing his neighbors to imbibe at the Schrine of 
Bachus on his premises. The defendant entered a plea of 
"not guilty." I heard the evidence and being of the opinion 
that he was guilty as charged, I ordered him to enter into a 
recognizance of two hundred dollars for his appearance before 
the Probate Court of Meigs county, which would be in session 
on the following day. He gave the required bond, and was 
for the time being, a free man. 

This trial was no sooner ended, than the old gentleman 
begged the privilege of filing an affidavit for assault and bat- 
tery against this "Son of Bachus." I took his affidavit and 
issued a warrant accordingly. A preliminary examination was 
immediately had, and the testimony showed that the old bar- 
tender had sold the defendant whiskey to be drank on the 
premises, and after he had imbibed rather freely, or at any rate, 
had drank as much as was prudent, the bar-tender had refused 
to sell him any more ; that the defendant then took umbrage at 



THOS. H. BARTON. 241 



this refusal, and concluded to use physical force, and compel the 
old gentleman to issue out another drink. This being refused, 
the defendant struck the complainant with his fist. I held the 
defendant under bond of fifty dollars for his appearance before 
the Probate Court, and failing to give the required bond, I is- 
sued a mittimus remanding him to the county jail, there to 
await the sitting of the court. 

Night was approaching at the conclusion of these suits. It 
was necessary to make the docket entries, and also draw up a 
certified transcript of each case, and deliver the same to the 
Probate Court before eight o'clock on the following morning. 
I sat down to my task, and was kept very busy till about one 
o'clock in the morning, when I heard a loud rap at the door. 
Upon opening it, I recognized the familiar form of 'Squire W. N. 
Nease, who desired my services at his residence to see his wife 
who was sick. Here was a dilemma, what should I do? Shall 
I disappoint my old friend and patron? No, I will go with 
him, and attend to his sick wife. Although two miles distant, I 
was soon at her bedside, where I remained about nn hour and 
a half, and then returned home. It was now early dawn, and I 
once more took up my pen and soon had the pleasure of knowing 
that my papers were ready. Immediately after breakfast I was 
on my way to the county seat, and reached that place in time to 
file the transcripts before the opening of the court. My fees in 
these two cases amounted to nearly fourteen dollars ; the visit 
to 'Squire Neases' was five dollars, and I had some additional 
practice amounting to two dollars, making fully twenty dollars, 
it being the largest amount of money that I ever earned in 
twenty-four hours labor. 

A great many amusing incidents occurred during the ses- 
sions of my court. On one occasion, a very illiterate old 
woman, familiarly known in the neighborhood as "Nannie 
Rags," was subpoenaed as a witness in a certain case. She 
gave me to understand that she could not speak English cor- 
rectly. She said that she could not speak "guode English," 
and desired an interpreter. I granted her request, "and as 
it was known that there was to be an interpreter, the old 
lady sprang to her feet, and commenced rattling off the 
Welch diphthongs and tripthongs, and before I could stop 

31 



242 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



her, she was through with one sentence, and the interpreter 
commenced to explain it, when an opportunity occurred to 
stop the proceedings. I informed the interpreter that before 
he could act in that capacity, he would first have to be sworn. 
Some one else then made an interruption, and I was com- 
pelled to restore order. Finally every one was quiet, the 
interpreter was sworn, and the old lady went on with her 
testimony. 

About the commencement of my second term of office, 
James Ewing, a cooper by occupation, moved to Syracuse, 
declared himself an attorney, and commenced practicing be- 
fore Justice's Courts. Mr. Ewing was illiterate, even in the 
common branches of education, but he was a man of consider- 
able natural ability, and sometimes made an able and eloquent 
plea. He had never plead law before a Justice of the Peace 
until he accidentally plead a case before me, and it was before 
me that he declared his intention to take up that profession. 
On one occasion, he was acting as attorney for the plaintiff, 
and 'Squire Duskey for the defendant. After hearing the 
testimony, Mr. Ewing addressed the court, and made quite 
an eloquent plea, but it did not have much effect on the court. 
'Squire Daskey then rose to his feet, and after the usual pre- 
liminary remarks, and with a merry twinkle of his eye, com- 
menced a tirade against Ewing. "Here is Jim Ewing; he 
don't know a colon from a semi-colon ; he don't know a 
comma from a period; he don't know the beginning or the 
ending of a sentence, and here he is pleading law before your 
honor!" 'Squire Duskey then finished his plea. 

John Borham, a coal miner by occupation, and who had 
served several years as constable, also practiced before justice's 
courts. Mr. Borham was perhaps better posted on law points 
than Ewing, but he did not have the natural ability of the 
latter. Borham and Ewing were usually employed by the 
plaintiffs, and 'Squire Duskey b}'^ the defendants, and in such 
cases I would have a full team before me. 

On one occasion Borham and Ewing were employed as part- 
ners to attend a law-suit in an adjoining township. They were 
both very poor scribes, and Mr. Ewing called upon me to write 
a bill of particulars for them, and I wrote this instrument ac- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 243 



cording to his instructions. He tarried at my office about an 
hour, quietly talking about his expected case at law, and get- 
ting all the information from me about the case that he could. 
When ready to go he picked up the first paper that he saw, 
and unobserved by me, put it in his pocket. He then left the 
office, and was soon on his way to attend the trial. In about 
an hour after his departure, I entered the office, and the first ob- 
ject that I observed was the bill of particulars that I had writ- 
ten out lying on the table. He had taken the wrong paper, 
and I remarked to my wife : " What will Borham and Ewing 
do? Mr. Ewing has left his bill of particulars in the office." 
Lewis Hudson was studj'ing medicine under me at the time, 
and I had written a hypothetical prescription in order to test 
his ability to fill it. This paper was missing. The two lawyers 
soon reached their destination, little thinking that they had 
left an important document behind them. When the case was 
called for hearing, the justice asked the defendant, who was re- 
presented by Borham and Ewing, for his bill of particulars, 
and thereupon, Mr. Ewing, with his usual flourish, laid down 
his supposed bill on the table. The justice saw that the paper 
was written in a fair legible hand, and proceeded to read it, 
but could not make out what it meant, and acknowledged that 
he could not read it. Mr. Borham then looked at the bill, and 
knew that it was in my hand-writing. He told the justice that 
he could read 'Squire Barton's writing, but on looking over 
the paper carefully, found it impossible to read it. The con- 
stable, who officiated at the trial, was a fair scholar, and said 
that he could read any paper that was written in a fair hand, 
but he also failed. Mr. Borham then wrote a bill of particulars. 
It is hardly probably that the case could be tried on a physi- 
cians prescription ! 

About the middle of this term, L. A. Minx n^oved to Syra- 
cuse, and took up his lodging with me. He was a promising 
young attorney, and he had located here for the purpose of 
following his profession. I now had one regular attorney and 
two pettifoggers, who were constant attendants on my court, 
besides the literati, of Poraeroy, who would occasionally put in 
an appearance in the more important cases. I had a large 
number of cases, and the quiet village of Syracuse was now 



244 AUTOBIOGRAPHY VF 



well supplied with legal lore. I did not experience much difficul- 
ty in civil suits, but would sometimes be led astray by the wily 
pleadings of the attorneys. On one occasion, Martin Hays, 
who was one of the most prominent attorneys of Pomeroy, led 
me astray; but it compelled his client to pay a large amount 
of unnecessary cost. He succeeded in ruling out certain testi- 
mony which should have been admitted, and when the case 
was appealed to the Court of Common Pleas my judgment 
was reversed. 

My civil docket became full of entries about two months 
before the expiration of my second term. I then applied to 
the trustees for a new one, it being their duty to furnish me 
with a docket. One of them said to me : " 'Squire, if you need 
a civil docket, buy one yourself!" I felt determined to resign 
my commission provided it was not furnished me. The town- 
ship clerk, however, informed the trustees that the law com- 
pelled them to furnish the justices of their township with a 
civil docket. In less than two weeks I was presented with a 
new and handsome civil docket. 

My second term was now drawing to a close, and I had de- 
cided not to be a candidate for a third term. I was succeeded 
by Isaac Carleton, Esq., of Syracuse, who held the office for 
three consecutive terms. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



PHYSICIAN AND DRUGGIST. 

I am now approaching the most important period of my life 
in a financial point of view. Thus far I have only inci- 
dentally touched upon my financial affairs, but from what I 
have already said the reader must infer that my prospects have 
not been brilliant. At the beginning of the war, after ten 
years of hard labor in the study and practice of medicine I 
found myself but little better off financially than at the com- 
mencement of my labors. When mustered out of the service, 
I had about three hundred dollars in greenbacks, worth about 
thirty-three and one-third cents on the dollar. I soon spent this 



THOS. H. BARTON. 245 



for drugs, surgical instruments, and for necessary household 
expenses. I also bought a horse. My instruments cost about 
forty dollars, the drugs about fifty. As I have alread}' stated in a 
former chapter, my practice was good, and soon brought me a 
fair income. I managed my business affairs very carefully, 
and in less than a year commenced the erection of an addition 
to our house, the building being too small for an office and 
dwelling. I turned the small building one-quarter around, 
and moved it back so as to erect a more commodious structure 
in front. The new edifice was to be rectangular in form, six- 
teen feet wide, twenty-six feet long and two stories high, and 
each story was to be divided into two chambers, one of 
the lower rooms being designed for an office and drug-store. 

I completed this building without any difficulty, except in 
one instance. One day, while on the road near Pomeroy, in 
company with John Heaton, I mei 'Squire David Bailey 
with a wagon load of oak shingles on his way to Pomeroy to 
deliver them to one .of the salt furnaces. Being in need of 
shingles at the time, I asked him if he would make and deliver 
me about one thousand. He answered in the affirmative and 
a bargain was immediately made, Mr. Bailey agreeing to make 
me as good a quality of shingles as those which he was then 
delivering. We then separated, and a few days afterwards, on 
returning home late at night, I saw a lot of shingles lying in 
front of the house. My wife- informed me that 'Squire Bailey 
brought them ; and, as I was absent from home with the money, 
she did not pay him. Next morning the carpenters came to 
work before I had time to examine the shingles, and told me 
that '"they were worthless, would ruin the building if put on 
it, and that they were not fit to cover a pig pen." Conse- 
quently, I did not use them, and refused to pay for them. The 
result was a suit at law, and I was summoned to appear before 
a Justice of the Peace of Sutton Township to answer to a debt 
of eleven dollars for one thousand lap-shingles. I decided to 
litigate the case, and subponsed my witnesses. Mr. M. A. 
Hudson advised me to employ 'Squire Duskey to attend to the 
matter for me, but I concluded that I did not need his services, 
and ayjpeared without counsel. William Foster appeared for 
the plaintiff. On the day set for trial, I selected a fair sample 



246 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



of the shingles and delivered them before the magistrate as 
evidence. I also proved by two responsible carpenters, "that 
the shingles which Mr. Bailey brought were worthless, that 
they would ruin the building if put on, and that the sample 
now before the court is a fair representation of the whole lot." 
John Heaton also testified to the same effect, 'Squire Bailey 
proved by his witness, who made the shingles, "that the load 
that I received was as good as those I had seen in the wagon, 
and that they did not know whether or not they had made the 
sample. 'Squire Foster in his plea said : "They have not 
brought a fair specimen of the lot, they have picked the poor- 
est shingles !" as much as to say that I, together with my wit- 
nesses, had sworn falsely. 'Squire Foster was abetter pettifogger 
than I was myself, as I knew very little about pleading a case 
before a Justice's Court. The magistrate rendered judgment 
against me for eleven dollars and the costs of the suit. 

On returning home, I sought the advice of Alexander Crooks, 
of Syracuse, stated the case to him, and he advised me to appeal 
it to the Court of Common Pleas, and even offered to sign the 
undertaking for an appeal. I thereupon carried the case to 
the higher court. While the suit was pending in court, I ac- 
cidenatally met an old friend and acquaintance named Stiles. 
He was no less a personage than'/Squire Zebedee Stiles, of 
Scipio Township, and after stating the case to him, he advised 
me to give it up, as 'Squire Bailey was a man of much exper- 
ience in law, and would probably gain the suit in the end. He 
also informed me that my attorney, Judge Simpson had no 
influence before a court or jury. This gentleman's advice in- 
stead of intimidating, only made me more firm and resolute, 
and also more cautious, and when the case was called for hear- 
ing, I employed Judge Nash, of Gallipolis, Ohio, to assist 
Judge Simpson. I was now fully determined not to pay for 
these worthless shingles. I had a sample of them before the 
court. 'Squire Bailey employed a young attorney who had 
located at Pomeroy, whose name I do not now remember. His 
evidence was about the same before the court that it was before 
the justice ; while I proved about the same, and I also proved 
by Mrs. Elizabeth Heaton and her daughter, that 'Squire 
Bailey told them "that the shingles were not good, but that I 



THOS. H. BARTON. 247 



would not know the difference between a good one and a poor 
one." Upon hearing the testimony, Judge Guthrie, who was 
then the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, quickly ren- 
dered a judgment in my favor for'the costs in this suit. 

Soon after completing this building, I also erected a barn, 
sixteen feet wide and eighteen feet long. I was then the owner 
of two horses, one of which I gave in exchange for the erection 
of this barn. 

In the fall of 1868, B. E. Sibley, a prosperous druggist of 
Raciue, was proposing to erect a drug store at Syracuse. My 
store room was too small for the besiness, and in order to 
keep Mr. Sibley from moving his place of business here, I 
late in the fall of that year, commenced building a drug store. 
It was to be eighteen feet wide, thirty feet long, ar.d two stories 
high. I began this work with very little funds. My prospects 
were based on a large practice of medicine and a good sale of 
drugs, and I went into debt for most of the building material, 
paying therefor as fast as I could. Henry Bartels took the 
Contract of encl^osing this buidding. Mr. Marr was to do the 
plastering, and Abner Curtis and Mr. Skirvin took the contract 
of finishing the store room. This block, when completed, had 
a front of forty-four feet on Second Street and thirty-eight feet 
on Barringer Street. 

It was my intention to plaster the drug store room, and leave 
the upper story unfinished, but Mr. Marr persuaded me to com- 
plete the upper chamber also. He was the only workman who 
received his pay in full. Henry Bartels came next and receiv- 
ed his wages except about one dollar and fifty cents. I gave 
Mr. Curtis and Mr. Skirvin separate notes for the amount of 
their wages. Mr. Skirvin afterwards negotiated my note to 
Waid Cross, of Racine. This building cost about nine hundred 
dollars, of which I had paid about five hundred dollars to the 
workmen and for building material. My account with the 
mechanics now stood as follows : 

Mr. Curtis' share of the job was $117.50 

Mr.Skirviu's " " " " " 68.50 

Total 186.00 

I paid Mr. Curtis ; $82.30 

I paid Mr. Skirvin 31.90 



248 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

Due to Mr. Curtis $85.20 

" " Mr. Skirvin 36.60 

'' " Mr. Bartels about 1.50 

Total to the mechanics 123.30 

It had been my intention, when I commenced the erection 
of this building, to negotiate a loan of three hundred dollars, 
and secure the same by a mortgage on the premises, and my 
wife had consented to enter into a mortgage with me. 

When I commenced practicing medicine at Pageville, my 
finances were very low, being in debt to D. Reed, of Pomeroy, 
for a small supply of drugs, but I had no idea of keeyjing a 
drug store at that time and place. While at Leon, West Vir- 
ginia, I kept a small supply of drugs on hand, together with 
some patent medicines, and I also did the same while at 
Chester, Ohio, having decided that, at some future time I 
would engage in the drug business. Upon locating at Syra- 
cuse, and during my sojourn here prior to the war, I become 
satisfi<^d that this was a good place for the sale of drugs, and I 
usually kept a good supply of pharmaceutical remedies for my 
practice, together with some other articles, which I kept for 
sale. As stated in a former chapter, I sold an unfinished 
building for ninety dollars, and with the proceeds, purcha'^ed 
a stock of drugs of Dr. Reed, to the amount of fifty dollars. I 
now had a larger supply on hand than at any previous ti:ne. 
About this period Mr. Charles Eplin, of Chester, located at 
Syracuse, and opened a drug store. His finances, however, did 
not justify his undertaking this business here, and he did not 
remain at Syracuse more than six months. Soon afterwards, 
a physician, whose name I do not now remember, moved here, 
and established himself in the drug business, but he did not 
continue long in this occupation. The result of all this was 
that I was somewhat retarded in my transactions. About the 
year 1859, I became an agent for the firm of Dr. D. Jane & 
Son for the sale of their medicines, which agency I held till 
after the commencement of the war. It was now my intention 
to keep a drug store, but I had no building suitable for the 
purpose, and no one to assist me financially,so that I was com- 
])elled to abandon that idea for the present, and only kept a 
moderate supply on hand. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 249 



And now came on the war, and more than three years 
elapsed before I was again prepared to resume the practice of 
medicine, or engage in the occupation of a druggist. In a 
few days after I returned from the army, I purchased fifty 
dollars worth of medicine of D. Reed paying him spot 
cash. These drugs were placed on a table in one of the rooms. 
I kept my stock replenished to about the same amount dur- 
ing the succeeding eighteen months, keeping up the supply b}"- 
small purchases. Sometime in the winter of 1865-66, I moved 
my medicines into one of the rooms of the new dwelling, 
which had then been erected. This was fitted up with count- 
er, shelving and drawers, and made a very fair appearance, 
notwithstanding the room was small. About this time Henry 
Bartels, a dry goods and grocery merchant, and who also kept 
some patent medicines for sale, offered me the privilege of 
sending with him to Cincinnati for drugs. I readily accepted 
his kind offer, and made up an order to the amount of about 
twelve dollars, the medicine to be paid for cash on delivery, 
(C. O. D.) I ordered drugs in this way on several occasions, 
getting a larger amount each time, and paying Mr. Bartels my 
share of the freight. I purchased these drugs of Burdsal & 
Brothers, I think it was in the latter part of 1866 that I com- 
menced dealing with that firm. My purchases were usually 
made partly for cash and par;:ly on credit. Early in the spring 
of 1867, I bought a supply of patent medicines of John D. 
Park, of Cincinnati, and about the same time a lot of Ameri- 
can Star Bitters was left with me to be sold on commission. 

One day. Captain Daniel De Wolfe, and 'Squire Duskey were 
in my store at the same time. On seeing the Star Bitters, 
Capt. De Wolfe wished to purchase a bottle. I informed him 
that I had heard that these bitters were subject to the United 
States internal revenue tax, and declined selling him 
a bottle. He insisted, however, that this tonic was 
not taxed, then took a bottle, and left the store. About 
one week afterwards, I received a notice from the in- 
ternal revenue collector of the Fifteenth Congressional 
District of Ohio, whose office was located at Marietta, 
notifying me that the United States had a claim of 
$37.50 against me as a retail dealer of liquors. A few days 



250 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



after this I incidentally mentioned this matter to Henry Bar- 
tels, and he informed me that he had a barrel of old bourbon 
whiskey, which he wished to dispose of, and proposed selling 
it to me. We soon made a bargain, and I took the whiskey to 
my store, paid the revenue tax, and thus became a retail dealer 
of liquors. I have no doubt that 'Squire Duskey soon received 
the much coveted lucre of $12.50, it being his dues for giving 
the information. I then added a few gallons of brandy and 
port wine to my stock, and soon found that 'Squire Duskey 
had done me a favor instead of an injury. I was making 
money, and doing it in a legitimate way. During this, or the 
preceding year. I purchased a lot of second hand drug furni- 
ture of B. E. Sibley, of Racine. This was a useful and profit- 
able investment. 

Lewis Hudson, who had been studying medicine under me 
during the past two years, was of much benefit to me, and my 
wife was a good druggist and assisted me in the sale of medi- 
cines and in filling prescriptions. There had been one draw- 
back to my wife's services, and it came about in this way. On 
the 15th of April, 1866, a son was born unto us. We named 
the little stranger Lewis Motte. 

In the year 1867, I borrowed two hundred dollars of Miss 
Lora A. Roush, securing the payment thereof by a mortgage 
on my real estate. With this money I purchased three hun- 
dred dollars worth of drugs and paints of Burdsal & 
Brother, one hundred dollars of the amount being purchased 
on time. My little store room was now filled to its utmost 
capacity. 

In the Sj)ring of 1868, I borrowed one hundred dollars of 
Charles Ball on one year's time at eight per cent interest. I de- 
sired to secure Mr. Ball by mortgage, but he preferred to have 
the amount secured by a personal endorsement. Henry Bartels 
went my security on this note. 

With a good ])ractice and a fair sale of drugs, the reader 
may ask : "Why so much borrowing of money?" The an- 
swer is obvious, I had now completed my new drug store, 
which, as already stated, cost about nine hundred dollars. It 
was paid for with the exception of about fifty dollars, and, in 
order to meet my financial obligations, I had depended mainly 



THOS. H. BARTON. 251 



on the collection of the fees for my medical services. Collect- 
ing doctor's bills, however, was slow work in those days, and 
I do not think that I collected more than half the fees for my 
professional labor. I did not charge for the medicines fur- 
nished on my own prescriptions, nor for that which was fur- 
nished to my patients on my daily visits. Collecting medical 
fees reminds me of the following anecdote : On one occasion, 
a young lady, who was very handsome, went to a dry goods 
and notion store, and asked the clerk, who was a single man, 
to show her a pair of fine gloves. The clerk placed a lot of 
gloves before her, and the young lady proceeded to make a 
selection, and while she was fitting the gloves on her delicate 
hands, the clerk was sizing her up on her good looks. Finally 
she made a selection and asked the young counter-jumper the 
price of the gloves. He replied : "You can have them for a 
kiss !" "I will take them at your off"er," replied the young 
lady, at the same time a roguish smile covering her sweet 
countenance. It was no sooner said than done; their lips 
met; the contract was closed, and the young lady simply re- 
marked : "You give trust at this store, now collect it if you 
can !" She w-apped up the gloves, and immediately left the store. 
It was no uncommon thing for my patrons to act with 
negligence in regard to the settlement of their accounts. They 
appeared to mentally exclaim : "You do your practice on 
credit, now collect it if you can !" In many instances, I do 
not think that I was even thanked for my services, and no 
doubt the major portion of my patrons had no intention of 
paying me. The Syracusa Coal & Salt Company paid their 
employees on the 15th of each month, and after each pay-day 
I would call on my customers, but it was a very common 
thing for them to put me off till the first of the succeeding 
month, then agreeing to pay me in merchandise from the 
company store, but when the first of the month arrived, I sel- 
dom found them ready to meet their obligations, even in store 
goods. I would sometimes become disgusted, and abandon 
the collection of the claim. The year 1868, was an unusual 
dull one in this respect. I do not think that my stock of 
drugs increased during that year, it being all that I could do 
to meet my financial obligations in other respects. 



252 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



Collecting was frequently interrupted from 1864 to 1869 by 
"strikes" of the coal miners. There were a number of strikes 
during this period, and on some occasions they lasted several 
months. It is not my intention to discuss the merits of these 
strikes. I think the company managed to hold out longest, 
and gained their point in nearly every instance. A celebrated 
strike occurred in the fall of 1865. The miners were then re- 
ceiving five cents a bushel for mining coal, and struck for 
seven. In the spring of 1866, after the Pittsburg coal com- 
panies had supplied the Cincinnati and other markets with 
coal, the miners were then compelled to work for three and a 
half cents a bushel. During these idle times, business would 
be very much depressed, and money scarce. I tliink a strike 
of three months duration at any time would cause a loss to 
each and every miner of at least three hundred dollars. These 
strikes would sometimes be followed by low water ur ice in the 
river, so that the mines could not be worked but a few months 
in the year. These conditions would cause the major portion 
of the miners and day-laborers employed about the mines to 
be in debt to their respective companies. The consequence 
was that many of them could not meet their obligations, and 
some of them seemed even inclined to repudiate their debts. 
In October, 1868, the coal operators of the Pomeroy Bend re- 
duced the price of mining coal from three and a half to three 
cents a bushel. During the succeeding winter of 1868-9, the 
mines were worked to only about half their capacity. This 
state of affairs again caused a depression in business, and 
had an injurious effect on my financial transactions' but 
notwithstanding this T kept gradually increasing my stock of 
drugs and medicines. This I had aimed to do "since the 
erection of my new drug building, and I had employed Mr. 
Lewis Hudson to assist me in my business. Some time in 
the spring of 1869, I found myself indebted to Bardsal & 
Brother, of whom I had purchased my drugs, to the amount 
of about two hundred doHars. 

During the winter and spring, I was making strenuous efforts 
to obtain money on a loan on one or two years time, offering 
to give from eight to ten per cent, interest. I thouglit that 
three hundred dollars would carry me through safely. I soon 



THOS. H. BARTON. 253 



found a gentleman, a farmer by occupation, who was expect- 
ing to receive the above named amount ; but when the money 
was due he failed to receive it. Soon afterwards I found 
another farmer who had several hundred dollars which he 
wished to invest in some way. He politely informed me that 
he would like to accommodate me, but could do better with his 
money by investing it in stock in some of the salt furnaces, as 
salt stock was then paying a larger dividend than any interest 
that he could receive for his money. I afterwards learned that he 
had invested several hundred dollars in stock in the salt fur- 
naces at Clifton, West Virginia. Imagine his surprise and cha- 
grin when, after the expiration of about one year, he learned that 
his investment was worth only twenty per cent, on the dollar ! 
It is needless to say that I did not sympathize with this old 
Shylock in the loss of his shekels. 

A gentleman who resided in Syracuse at this time had about 
$150 to loan. I politely asked him to loan me the money, 
offering to make him secure by a mortgage-note with eight per 
cent, interest. He partially promised to accommodate me, 
but afterwards changed his mind, and loaned the money to 
the Syracuse Coal and Salt Company at six per cent. On 
another occasion I asked an old gentleman, who lived in the 
country and was a farmer in affluent circumstances, for the 
loan of some money. I informed him that I could secure the 
loan by a mortgage with eight per cent, interest on our house 
and lot, informing him in regard to the size of the building 
and value of the propsrty. He replied : " I have the money 
to loan, but I don't like to take a mortgage on such a small 
building, for if I take a mortgage I may be put to the trouble 
of closing it, and this would be a great expense to me." I im- 
mediately bade him farewell, mounted my horse and wended 
my way home, and while on the way I rendered a judgment on 
a note which had been left in my hands for collection. I had 
issued a summons which was returnable on that day. 

I solicited aid in a pecuniary way from several other indi- 
viduals, but failed to find a man who would accommodate me 
with a loan. In the meantime Burdsal & Brother had abso- 
lutely refused me any more credit, notwithstanding I had 
plainly informed them that I was erecting a building suitable 



254 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 

for the trade at this place, that my business was fair, and that 
I expected to be able to meet all my financial obligations. 
About the first of May this firm threatened to bring suit 
against me if this debt was noc immediately paid. During 
the spring my sales were large, but I was not replenishing 
the store, and the amount of my stock was fast running 
down. 

Some time in May I moved my drugs into the new building, 
and in order to replenish ray stock, I sent an order to a firm 
in Pittsburgh for about $100 worth of medical supplies, and 
received them in due time. About the same time I sent an 
order to a well known firm in Cincinnati for about the same 
amount. These goods were duly received, and soon afterwards 
an agent from Cincinnati visited me and solicited an order 
for about fifty dollars worth of drugs and medicines. Thanks 
to these gentlemen, I was now enabled to replenish my store 
and relieve myself, for the time being, of financial embarrass- 
ment. These last orders for drugs were given in good faith. 
I expected to pay for them by prolonging the time and paying 
interest. I felt that I would be able to pull through, pro- 
vided Burdsal & Brother did not leave their account for col- 
lection. 

During the pleasant month of May, I was doing a good 
business in the store. Mr. Hudson is kept busy from morning 
till night. I now charge for the medicine in my prescriptions, 
and my wife assists me in the store during my absence from 
home. I fill some of the prescriptions of the physicians who 
practice in this place, while others, who reside elsewhere, send 
theirs to Racine or Pomeroy in order to have them filled. I 
presume these physicians are jealous of my apparent prosper- 
ity. If I could now obtain one hundred and fifty dollars to 
satisfy Burdsal & Brother, which is all that I now owe them, 
I could certainly pull through : but the fates appear to be 
against me ; the moneyed men turn a deaf ear to my strong 
appeals for help ; my main thoughts are centered on Burdsals ; 
Will they sue me? I have no fears of Mr. Ball, for he has 
readily consented to an extension of time on my note for 
another year. One pleasant morning I observe a gentleman 
approaching my lesidence, it is the sheriff of Meigs county, 



THOS. H. BARTON. 255 



he hands me a paper, I read it, it is a summons citing me to 
appear at the next sesbion of the Court of Common Pleas to 
answer in a civil action wherein Burdsal & Borthers claim a 
judgment against me for one hundred and fifty dollars. 

I was now fearful that the drug business was about to come 
to an end. I attended this session of the court and was asked 
by Major D. A. Russell, now judge of the District Court, if he 
could be of any service to me. .1 replied : "You cannot ; the 
debt is just, and I do not propose to make a defence." The 
Burdsals thereupon detained a judgment against me for the 
amount of their claim, together with the costs of prosecution. 
A short time previous to this suit Henry Bartels had made an 
assignment, and the assignee only paid about twenty per cent, 
of the indebtedness. I think this was the reason why Burdsal 
& Brother brought suit against me. I have no doubt that they 
lost heavily through Mr. Bartel's failure, hence their action 
against me. 

The news soon spread through the quiet village of Syracuse 
and the adjacent county, that I was about to fail in business. 
This caused heavy sales to those persons to whom I was in- 
debted. The general sales were as good as could be expected. 
I now redoubled my exertions to obtain a loan. I tried to find 
a "syndicate" that would provide me with funds ; but it was 
all in vain, I found none. My efforts proved a sad failure. I 
then tried to dispose of my drugs at private sale, and for this 
purpose, wended my way to Pemeroy, and tried to sell my 
stock to some of the druggists of that city. This also proved 
a failure ; I found no person willing to make the purchase. I 
was doing this in order to satisfy Burdsal's judgment, and 
other debts that were hanging over me. 

On learning that Burdsals had obtained a judgment against 
me, and that I was trying to dispose of my drugs, Charles 
Ball, B. E. Sibley and Waid Cross, planted separate suits 
against me before 'Squire Nease. I think Mr. Ball obtained a 
judgment for one hundred and eight dollars, Mr. Cross for 
about thirty-six dollars and Mr. Sibley for about seventy 
dollars. 

While these suits were in progress, I asked my old friend, 
W. T. A. Lallance, who had been a steamboat pilot on the Ohio 



256 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

river for many years, whether or not he would like to change 
his occupation, buy my drugs, rent the store-room, and become 
a druggist. The bargain was made in a few days, Mr. Lallance 
agreeing to take my stock of drugs at wholesale prices, and 
pay me one hundred and ten dollars per annum rent for the 
building, the rent to be paid in monthly installments. This 
sale, when perfected would enable me to meet my financial 
engagements which were now due and pressing. 

Will this sale be perfected? A few days has elapsed since 
the arrangement was made. It was now July. It was about 
nine o'clock in the evening, and I was quietly meditating in 
regard to my affairs, and wondering what would happen next. 
At that moment the front door of the store was quietly opened, 
and I found myself in the presence of William L. McMaster, 
Sheriff of Meigs County. He had an execution in his hands, 
issued by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, directing 
him to levy on my goods and chattels to satisfy the judgment 
of Burdsal & Brother. He made his business known, and I 
immediately sent for Mr. Lallance with the intention of settling 
this affair at once. He was soon at the store, but unluckily 
for me, was not prepared to furnish the money. The Sheriff 
then made his levy, and bidding us farewell, locked the doors. 
I am not superstitious, but the click of the key, as the officer 
shot the bolts, made an ominous impression on my mind of 
evil to come. The stock was invoiced on the ninth of July, 
and amounted to about four hundred and eighty dollars. 
The stock, however, was not sold by the Sheriff. Mr. D. Lal- 
lance paid the judgments against me, together with the costs, 
and also paid some other claims that were pressing, so that I 
was soon clear of my pressing indebtedness. He immediately 
took possession of the drug-building, and not being a druggist 
himself, employed Mr. Hudson as a druggist and pharmacist. 

What has been the result of all this? It may be summed up 
in a few words. I have been sued to the amount of about 
three hundred and sixty-four dollars by these firms and indi- 
viduals, and judgments have been rendered against me, to- 
gether with the costs. I have paid these claims by selling my 
drugs at private sale, but I have also been compelled to pay a 
large amount of unnecessary cost. I have also paid some 



THOS. H. BARTON. 257 



other indebtedness ; and, prior to selling to Mr. Lallance, I 
had paid about fifty dollars of my indebtedness by the sale of 
drugs. The creditors who were pressing me have been paid in 
full. These gentlemen have received the amount of their 
claims. They have the money in their pockets, but they have 
subjected me to unnecessary trouble and expense. Have they 
bettered themselves by so doing? I think not. How has it 
been with the Burdsals, who have been the most clamorous of 
all my creditors, and have been instrumental in bringing 
about this result? They certainly have not bettered their con- 
dition, for they were afterwards compelled to make assign- 
ments on two different occasions. They paid an attorney fee 
of at least ten dollars for collecting their claim against me, 
and their costs and expenses were equal if not greater than 
mine. Moreover, this suit was the cause of their finally losing 
the drug trade at Syracuse, which would probably amount to 
fifteen hundred dollars per annum. Would it not have been 
better for them to have given me a reasonable extension of 
time, secure their claim, and let the debt draw interest, than 
to have pursued the course they did? As the sequel of my 
story will show, I was able to maintain my family, and pay a 
considerable amount of interest from the proceeds of my prac- 
tice, thus leaving the profits on my drugs a net gain which in 
a few years, would have cancelled all my indebtedness. 

And now a few words in regard to Mr. Ball. I know that he 
did not want to use the money. His note was signed by 
Emily and myself, and was absolutely good without Henry 
Bartel's endorsement. I am not a Wilkins Macawber, and I 
did not think that my promissory note should pass as current 
money all over the world, but I did believe that my note was 
good for its face value in this case, my wife being the owner 
of real estate in her own right to the value of. eighteen hun- 
dred dollars. Moreover there was no necesssity for Mr. Ball to 
join Henry Bartels in the action, thus causing me to pay un- 
necessary cost. I do not think that Waid Cross and B. E. 
Sibley were in such straightened circumstances as to cause 
them to bring suit, and I did not even know that Waid Cross 
held my note until the constable summoned me to appear be- 
fore 'Squire Nease. 



258 autobiography|op 



How was it with Laura A. Hudson, Uriah Quillen, and Ab- 
ner Curtis? During all this turmoil and excitement over my 
financial affairs they remained quiet, and did not even ask me 
for any part of their claim against me. I have always felt 
grateful for their leniency, and they afterwards received the 
amount of their claims in full. 

These suits remind me of a flock of sheep that are about 
to jump a fence. They hesitate, and remain huddled together, 
till one of their number makes a break and leaps over. He is 
immediately followed by the rest of the flock. It was just the 
same with my creditors. They hesitated and looked on 
while I was erecting the new drug building, but as soon as 
Burdsal & Brothers commenced proceedings, the others im- 
mediately began actions against me. 

I did not relish the idea of giving up the drug business. 
I had no opposition, there being no other drug store in the 
village at that time. My reverses were keenly felt by my 
wife. Emily thought that there was great danger of our 
losing all our property. She was a poor comforter to me in 
this trying time. Moreover, she censured me severely for 
buying such a large amount of drugs, and she also advised 
me to seek another location. I had purchased these drugs, 
however, in good faith, and was building up a large and 
lucrative trade, and did not desire to change my location. 

I am now satisfied that I did wrong in the management of 
this business. I am firmly of the opinion that as soon as 
Burdsal & Brother brought suit against me, I should have 
called my principal creditors together, and if they were un- 
willing to give me an extension of time, or if they determined to 
share equally in my assets, I should have made an assign- 
ment, and given all my creditors an equal share. The reason 
is obvious. I had accounts on m}' books to the amount of over 
two thousand dollars. Of this, an assignee would probably 
have collected about four hundred dollars, or twenty per cent. 
My stock of drugs, as alread}' stated, amounted to about four 
hundred and eighty dollars. The law would have allowed me 
a set-off, and with this I could have commenced business once 
more, or my wife could have started in business in her own 
name, and could soon have built up a lucrative trade. The 



THOS. H. BARTON. 259 



proceeds of my practice would more than maintain my family, 
thus leaving the profits on the drugs a net gain. I do not be- 
lieve that I realized more than ten per cent, on the debts 
which were due me at that time. I do not relate this to dis- 
parage any of those who were indebt'^d to me. I had freely 
and willingly credited out my services and medicines. There 
was no one to blame but myself, but there is an old adage 
that some persons will ride a free horse to death. This re- 
minds me of an anecdote of a coal operator, residing at 
Minersville, who, on one occasion, borrowed a horse to ride 
a distance of about ten miles. The day was very hot, and 
the animal was free to go. The horse was soon returned 
covered with foam, and barely able to stand on its feet, when 
the following conversation occurred : 

Owner : "Mr. , I am afeared you have killed my hoss ! 

Why did you ride him so tast?"' 

Borrower: "The hoss wanted to go, and I let him out. I 
did not think he would hurt hisself, therefore the hoss is to 
blame !" 

Thus it was with myself, for so long as T was willing to credit 
out my services and drugs, my customers thought as the bor- 
rower did, that there was no one to blame but myself. Reader, 
beware of the credit system ! 

Mr. Lallance proved a good tenant, and paid his rent 
promptly. This made business much easier for me, and I 
soon became reconciled to the situation. During the first 
year that he occupied the drug-building, my financial affairs 
improved, and I was able to pay some small amounts on ray 
indebtedness. I more than kept the interest paid. During this 
time, my wife, on several occasions, tried to sell the property 
to Mr. Lallance, but he was not prepared to invest in real 
estate, and no bargain was made. On the 9th of July, 1870, he 
again rented the store, agreeing to pay ten dollars a month. 
Throughout this year my finances improved, and I paid some 
small debts and made partial payments on others. Making 
collections, however, was about as dull as usual. 

My wife was now making the most strenuous exertions to 
dispose of our property. She used every means to induce Mr, 
Lallance to make the purchase, offering to sell him the real 



260 AUT0BI0C4RAPHY OF 



estate for two thousand five hundred dollars. He, however, 
declined the offer. About this time I also became willing to 
sell, intending to remove to the State of Kansas, take up one 
hundred and sixty acres of land under the soldier's pre-emp- 
tion act, and operate a farm in connection with the practice of 
medicine; but, on finding that I was in earnest, my wife 
strongl}' opposed this project. Her strong opposition soon 
caused me to abandon the notion, and also the idea of selling 
our property. 

During the winter and early part of the spring of 1871, my 
wife was more resolute than ever in regard to disposing of the 
property, and offered it to Mr. Lallance for two thousand two 
hundred dollars, but he did not make the purchase. She was 
bold enough to tell Mr. Lallance and myself that she would 
sell on the first opportunity, provided she could get her price. 

Up to the first of March Mr. Lallance did a large and lucra- 
tive business, but about this time he became fearful lest we 
would dispose of the drug-building, and thus throw him out of 
a location. During the first part of this month, he concluded 
to buy a lot, and erect a suitable building for the drug trade at 
this place. In the latter part of March, he purchased a lot on 
Third Street, and commenced making preparations to erect a 
drug store and dwelling. The mechanics were ready to com- 
mence their labors about the first of April. I am inclined to 
the opinion that he made a mistake in so doing, and that he 
has himself long since came to the same conclusion. He could 
have rented our drug store for an indefinite period, and the 
business did not j ustify the expense of erecting a new building. 

While Mr. Lallance was making preparations for his pro- 
posed building, my wife and I were consulting as to what we 
would do with our store. My wife's first proposition was to 
lock it up as soon as Mr. Lallance's time expired, but I came 
to no hasty conclusion. My first idea was to obtain a loan of 
one or two hundred dollars, and carry on the business our- 
selves, but I remembered my experience of the previous three 
years, and soon abandoned the idea of trying to borrow money, 
and concluded not to depend on our friends and neighbors for 
assistance, but on our own resources, and start the business on 
a small scale. It is the old stor}' of the lark and the farmer. As 



THOS. H. BAKTON. 261 



soon as the farmer determined to cut the grass himself, the 
lark concluded that it was time to seek another nest. I gave 
my wife eighteen dollars to invest in drugs, wrote the ortler, 
and she signed it. At her request the order was sent to J. S. 
Burdsal & Company, being the same firm of whom I had 
formerly bought my drugs. On the same day that Mr. Lallance 
commenced his now building, we were engaged in setting up 
eighteen dollars and twenty-five cents worth of medicines in 
our old stand, it being the small room in our dwelling which I 
had first used as a drug store. This was a surprise to Mr. 
Lallance, and he took umbrage at what he considered a very 
unkind act on our part. However, it did not give hira much 
uneasiness, for he came to the conclusion that there would not 
be much competition. 

On commencing business again, ray wife and I adopted a 
new plan, which was to separate the funds received from my 
practice from the money received from the sale of drugs. In 
this way we could easily ascertain our profits in the drug 
Inisiness. During the first three months my sole dependence 
was on my own prescriptions, which we now filled ourselves. 
Up to this time I had been writing from twelve to eighteen 
hundred prescriptions yearly, and I knew that if I furnished 
the medicines myself that my own practice would create a 
large sale of drugs. Whenever I stood in need of funds, I 
would borrow of my wife, and vice versa. I kept a strict ac- 
count of the sales, and of the cash received, so that I knew 
precisely how our business stood. At the urgent request of 
my wife, I did not use any printed blanks for prescriptions or 
for labels, and wrote the prescriptions and directions on blank 
paper, the object being to confine the practice and the sale of 
drugs in our own hands. The other physicians who practiced 
in this locality generally sent their prescriptions to Mr. 
Lallance. Sometimes, however, we filled a prescription from 
some phj'sician who made no choice. 

To all appearances, the chances of success in our new busi- 
ness was strongly against us. Perhaps no firm ever com- 
menced business with less means, but with more enthusiasm, 
energy and determination than we did. Even our children 
were willing and anxious to help us in our undertaking. I 



262 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



invariably wrote out the orders for our supplies of drugs, and 
my wife signed them. She was very cautious not to make 
these orders too large, so that we could not meet them when 
due. We succeeded, however, in meeting all the demands 
against us We moved our stock into the drug store soon after 
Mr. Lallance vacated it. We took possession about the 10th 
of July, and about the same time received an additional sup- 
ply of drugs and drug furniture. Our store now made a fine 
appearance, and we were much elated over our prospects. Our 
stock now increased rapidly, and it was evident that we would 
soon have a first-class drug store. 

During the succeeding fall and winter my eldest son, George, 
who had a fair education, was of some assistance to me in the 
store. He could sell some of the articles which we kept on 
hand, and Martha, who was a good scribe, would sometimes 
write the directions for the medicines, while I w'rote the pre- 
scriptions and filled them. In the spring and summer of 1872 
George could handle the apothecary medicines, and in 1873 he 
was able to fill the prescriptions, under my supervision. He 
was now thirteen years old. One day Rev. Morgan, of the M. 
E, Church, whose children were affected with the diphtheria, 
came to the store while I was absent and requested George to 
refill a prescription. Mr. Morgan handed him the bottle con- 
taining the number, asking if he could put up the medicine. 
The young man took the bottle, looked up the prescription 
among the files, and then compounded the mixture. After 
this he was able to fill prescriptions. 

During the first eighteen months our business kejit improv- 
ing rapidly, and at the end of this period we had on hand a 
fair amount of })atent medicines, apothecary medicines, school 
books, stationery, notions, paints, oil, dye stuff, glass, etc. Up 
to October, 1872, my wife assisted willingly in the store, but 
she now began to falter in her belief in the propriety of keep- 
ing a drug store, and about Christmas we spent nearly one 
week parleying as to the amount of an order for drugs that we 
were getting up. Finally I wrote an order for a small amount, 
and she signed it. I immediately sent it to Burdsal's, at Cin- 
cinnati, but it was late in the season when the order reached 
them ; the river was closed with ice, and the goods did not 



THOS. H. BARTON. '263 



reach us till the first of Februar}^ 1873. During the win- 
ter and succeeding spring and early part of the summer, 
Emily continued to urge me to dispose of our property and 
purchase a farm with the proceeds. In order to please her, I 
wrote a few letters to relatives residing in Indiana and Illinois, 
inquiring about land and a location for practicing medicine. 
After much persuasion, Emily signed one or two orders more ; 
but on one occasion during the spring, she absolutely refused 
to sign an order amounting to about sixty dollars. Her rea- 
son was : that " I was making guch large orders that the house 
and lot would have to be sold to pay for the drugs." Upon 
her refusal, I presented it to Martha, who signed it in the name 
of the firm. 

Early in May, my wife proposed that I should visit my 
sister Elizabeth, near Collett Station, Jay County, Indiana. I 
presume that her idea was for me to look at the country, and 
ascertain how I liked it. I had not seen my sister for more 
than twenty years, and concluded to make the visit. Martha 
was to accompany me, and a journey of three days found us at 
the Spilman residence. My sister and I had both so changed 
that we scarcely recognized each other ; but had I met my 
brother-in-law in the city of New York, I would certainly have 
known him. It was a very pleasant visit, and after remaining 
one week, returned home, being absent two weeks. Upon my 
arrival Emily inquired how I liked the country, and whether 
I had found a good location. I informed her that I was 
pleased with the locality for farming purposes, but that, in 
my opinion, it was an unhealthy place, malarial fever pre- 
vailing, more or less, every year. I also informed her that, in 
my then state of health, that I was liable to contract this 
fever if I resided there two or three months. On learning this 
state of facts she appeared to be much disappointed. 

During my absence, my wife, who was competent to pre- 
scribe in certain cases, was called to visit a gentleman who had 
an attack of the colic, and she prescribed for him. Upon my 
return I was requested to to see the case, and learned that my 
wife's treatment had partially relieved him. 

I felt much relieved in body and mind, after having a rest 
of two weeks from the toils of xny profession, aud once more 



264 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



turned my attention to business with great energy. I was also 
well pleased with the manner in which my wife and son had 
conducted the store in my absence. For some time both 
branches of business were more lucrative than ever before. I 
could meet the present demands upon me and have some funds 
left to apply on old debts. On one occasion, during the sum- 
mer, I met a gentleman on the highway, who held a note 
against me, which was dormant; that is, it was barred by 
limitation, and could not be collected. On reminding me of 
this fact, I immediatel}' paid him ten dollars on the note, thus 
renewing the obligation. I think this was no more than 
justice. Pe'rmit mo to remark : "Do ye likewise." 

In the latter part of August, I advised my wife to purchase 
another town lot. It was sixty-lour feet in width and ninety- 
eight feet in length, fronted on Barringer Street, and adjoined 
the one she already owned, and would make a valuable acqui- 
sition to her property. She readily consented to make the 
purchase, agreeing to give three hundred dollars for the lot, 
fil'iy dolhirs of which was to be })aid on the day of sale. INly 
reasons for advising her to purchase this projierty were that, 
for some time, she had said nothing in regard to selling out, 
and I desired, if possible, to wean her from that notion. 
There were seven choice apple-trees on the lot, which were be- 
ginning to bear fruit ; there was also room for a garden, and 
play-ground for the children. She made the purchase, and, 
for a time abandoned the idea of changing our location. 



CHAPTER XV. 



A FATAL STROKE OF THE PEN. 

I write this chapter with great reluctance. If I could make 
my narrative connected and complete without it, I should pre- 
fer to say nothing aliout the events it records. I have exper- 
ienced many changes, but to all save these I have become 
reconciled; these never will, never can be reconciled to my 
satisfaction. I would that they could forever be blotted from 
my memory. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 265 



It was a bright day in the first week in October 1873. It is 
now about four moths since I visited my sister Elizabeth, it is 
about three months since I revived that dormant note against 
me; it is six weeks since my wife purchased the adjoining lot 
to her property ; I have been called to Minersville to visit some 
patients. I am on my return home, and I am meditating in 
regard to the future ; I am building castles in the air ; I have 
come to the conclusion that, in one year, my wife will have 
paid for her late purchase, that, in the meantime, she will keep 
improving the store and increasing her stock of drugs, and 
keep up her obligations with Burdsals. Her business, on an 
average, has netted an income of about twenty dollars a month, 
or two hundred and forty dollars per annum. I think it will 
soon reach three hundred ; perhaps more. Throughout the 
summer I have had more lucrative practice than at any other 
previous time, and my standing as a physician is })robably 
better than ever before. I am more than paying the interest on 
my debts, I do not feel the expense to Indiana, neither does 
my wife miss the fifty dollars which she paid on her property ; 
but she has told me that she does not like drug business. 
However, I have come to the conclusion that, with the assis- 
tance of George, I can carry on the business myself, and that, 
at the end of five years, we can have a first-class drug store. 
My wife has been doing business about two years and six 
months, and I think that the stock on hand will invoice about 
six hundred dollars. This shows what can be done with eigh- 
teen dollars when rightly applied. I am now willing that 
Emily shall attend to her domestic affairs, I -will carry on the 
business in my own name; and, if there is no depression in 
trade, in a very few years I will be clear of indebtedness, and 
in ten or twelve years be able to retire from active practice, I 
am about to exclaim in the language of the Bard of Avon : 

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, 
Which, taken at the tlood, 
Leads on to fortiiiie." 

I have now reached my residence, I dismount, hitch my horse, 
and enter the store, where George is engaged in building a 
miniature steamboat, I wend my way to the sitting room, and 
find my wife apparently in deep meditation. I do not disturb 
her. Presently she speaks. What do I hear her say? Am I 

34 



2^6 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



dreaming? No ! it is my wife who speaks, and the words pro- 
ceed from her own lips. "Doc. I have sold the house and 
LOT !" Had a clap of thunder fallen from a cloudless sky, or 
had I found the block being consumed by the flames, I could 
not have been more surprised. For a few moments. I was 
speechless. Can it be a reality? I have certainly not lost my 
senses. It is my wife who is sitting before me. and it is she 
who speaks to me. All my hopes and desires; all my plans 
and calculations ; all my castles in the air, vanish in an instant. 
I was stunned, but in a few minutes I quietly asked her the 
terms of the sale, and to whom she had sold the property. 
She replied : "I have sold it to Lewis Hudson and Ambrose' 
Roush. They are to give me eighteen hundred dollars for the 
real estate, and are to take the drugs at wholesale prices." She 
funher informed me that the purchase money is to be paid in 
cash, as soon as they take possession of the property, and that 
she has also ngreed not to keep a drug store at Syracuse in 
opposition to them, nor purchase any more drugs, and that the 
new lot and the barn are not included in the sale. Shall I 
acquiesce in this transaction, sell our property, and thus throw 
us out of business, trusting to chance in order to obtain 
another location? Yes, I will acquiesce, for without her assis- 
tance at the present time, I fear that I can not conduct the busi- 
ness alone, and if we do not succeed in the future as we have 
in the past I shall not be to blame.* 

Thus far there had only been a verbal contract between my 
wife and Messrs. Hudson and Roush. In a few days after- 
wards these gentlemen appeared with a written article of 
agreement for signature, in accordance witli the foregoing 
terms. ^ In signing this article, I made a fatal stroke of the 
pen. The pro{)erty was now virtually out of my hands, and 
Hudson and Roush were to take possession on the first of 
April, 1874. In the mean time our orders for drugs were very 
small, the sales were fair, and as a natural result the stock 
was fast running down. 

For a time I was much dissatisfied in regard to this sale ; 
but soon after the bargain was consummated, the coal opera- 
tors at Syracuse, as well as elsewhere in the Pomeroy Bend, 
determined to reduce the price of mining coal. The result 



THOS. H. BARTON. 267 



was one of the most obstinate strikes that had ever occurred 
in the bend. It continued until the following April. During 
this period coal was very scarce at Syracuse, even for domes- 
tic purposes. The Syracuse Coal and Salt Company adopted 
the following plan. If a coal miner stood in need of coal for 
his own use, he had the privilege of mining three cars of coal, 
one for himself and two for the company. By this means a 
partial supply of coal was provided for the citizens This de- 
pression of business was caused by the great financial crisis 
of 1873. which, beginning in the East, gradually extended 
throughout the United States. 

One of the causes which led to this sale was the credit 
system, and my wife was about as deeply in the mud as I was 
in the mire. If I credited out my services as a physician, 
she also did the same in regard to her crugs. I will give one 
illustration. One dav, an old lady, who was not feeling well, 
came to the store, and bought of my wife, a box of patent pills 
on credit. She went home and took a dose; but in a few 
hours I was called in great haste to see her, the messenger 
telling me that she was severely cramped in the stomach and 
bowels. I was soon at her bed-side, and found as a result of 
this potent cathartic, that her lower extremities were in close 
proximity to her head. It caused me two visits, and no in- 
considerable amount of medicine to set her right once more. 
At this writing, my practice, the medicine which I furnished 
her. together with the pills, are standing on the books un- 
paid. 

The above is only one instance out of a score, perhaps hun- 
dreds, that I could enumerate; and it became evident to my 
wife that Poor Old Trust was not dead as yet. Bad Pay had 
not killed the poor old fellow, but it was reducing his vital as 
well as his mental powers. Emily naturally came to the 
conclusion that to quit the business was the only way to break 
up the credit system. She was unwilling to wait, and move 
on in this quiet way until we attained better circumstances. I 
wished to do so, but she did not agree with me. The reader 
may come to the conclusion that as I was strongly opposed to 
selling the property, and had the power to prevent the sale, I 
should have done so. My answer is this : My wife owned the 



268 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



property ; it was hers absolutely in fee simple. I have already 
stated, in a former chapter, that the deed was made to her, and 
also gave my reasons for so doing. She gradually became dis- 
satisfied. She was uncertain in regard to the final result. We 
were losing, on an average, about ten dollars a month on sales, 
which we failed to collect. She did not seem to realize that 
the profits on the medicines would justify the loss. Accord- 
ing to her reasoning these petty losses would in time close out 
the store. I gradually came to the conclusion that it was best 
to let her have her way. and if this change in our affairs should 
prove disastrous, I knew tliat the blame could not be charged 
to me. 

During the winter of 1S78-4, I wrote several letters to Dr. 
H. W. Stoddard, of Illinois, concerning the price of land in 
his locality, and also in regard to a location for the practice 
of medicine. He was a cousin of my wife, and had studied 
medicine with me for a few months, while I resided at Chester. 
I also corresponded witli my brother in-law, Mr. Christopher 
Spilman, who then resided in Indiana in reference to the 
same subject. In the meantime every person with whom I 
conversed in relation to selling out and changing my location, 
witli two exceptions, told me that I did wrong in so doing. I 
informed them, however, that I was opposed to selling" our 
property, and that it was my wife who made the sale. At the 
same time Hudson and Roush were making strong appeals to 
us to remain at Syracuse. I was having an excellent practice, 
and they wished to retain me in this locality in order to fill my 
prescriptions 

We finally determined to move to Indiana. On the fourtli 
of April we disposed of our household goods at public auction. 
Isold my horse at private sale on nine month's credit. About 
the same time the stock of drugs and medicines on hand was 
invoiced and turned over to Hudson and Roush. The invoice 
amounted to about five hundred dollars. During the spring I 
paid a portion of my old indebtedness from the sale of drugs 
and from medical fees, which I succeeded in collecting. The' re 
was about three hundred dollars standing on the books exclu- 
sively for drugs. Our balances further showed that we had clear- 
ed, on an average, about twenty dollars per month from the sale 



TSOS. H. BARTON. 269 



of drugs, and that about ten dollars per month had been 
credited out, which was uncollected. 

It had been arranged that we should take our departure on 
the fifth day of April, and when the time arrived, a large num- 
ber of persons assembled at the river landing to bid us farewell ; 
and when the good old steamer Hudson hove in sight, many of 
those, who had been our friends and neighbors, gave each of us 
a hearty shake of the hand, at the same time wishing us good 
luck in our new undertaking. I endeavored to appear as lively 
and cheerful as usual, but at heart I felt downcast and sad. I 
was parting from many old and pleasant associations, I was 
about to take up my abode among strangers, I had laid aside 
an excellent practice, and was about to abandon the most 
lucrative business in which I had ever been engaged. My 
thoughts were troubled. Even the elements seemed in unison 
with my feelings. The sky was dark and lowering ; the sun 
was obscured by the clouds ; the atmosphere was damp and 
chilly ; a misty rain was descending ; all nature wore a gloomy 
aspect. I felt its depressing influence, and wondered what the 
future would be ! 

Three day's travel found us at Collett Station, Jay county, 
Indiana, where we were met by my brother-in-law, who gave 
us a heartj^ welcome to his hospitable residence. We were 
now among the plains and woodlands of the Hoosier State. 
Mr. Spilman resided about one mile from Collett, which 
is a small village situated four miles south of Portland, the 
county-seat, and on the Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad. The 
land in Jay county is undulating and in places it is inter- 
spersed with marshes and swamps, and a few ponds are occas- 
ionally found. On the creek bottoms and upland the soil 
consists of a rich loam, and is very productive. All the 
cereals that grow on the Ohio river bottoms can be raised here 
in abundance, but the soil is best adapted to raising corn, oats 
and flax. Wheat is sometimes injured in March by the alter- 
nate freezing and thawing, and fruit is occasionally killed by the 
late frosts. Peaches will not grow in this locality, the winters 
being so cold that the frost kills the trees. 

East of the railroad lies a forty acre lot. On its eastern 
border stood an old log cabin which was probably the first edifice 



270 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



ever erected in that locality. Near by stood a stable, which 
was built of round logs, and the dirt floor was covered with 
manure ttvo feet deep. There was also a building, which was 
used as a corn-crib and hen house, on the premises, and an 
orchard of about eighteen choice apple trees. The railroad 
which, at this point, runs nearly north and south, ran across the 
northwest corner of this lot at an angle of about thirty degrees, 
thus cutting off" about one and ahalf acres of land. Apart of the 
village of Collett is located on the part of the original lot west 
of the railroad. Soon after our arrival at Collett Mr. Spilman 
informed us that this property was for sale, and that the owner, 
John Grearinger, asked thirteen hundred dollars for it. He 
also informed me, that according to the value of real estate in 
the neighborhood, this piece of land was worth twelve hundred 
dollars. Upon hearing a conversation with Mr. Grearinger 
in regard to his terms for the sale of the property, he replied : 
'Tt is worth thirteen hundred dollars ;" we offered him twelve 
and thus aff'airs stood during the next two days. Meanwhile, 
we were not very anxious about purchasing property in this 
locBlity, and I now believe that, had I proposed to retrace our 
steps to Syracuse my wife would have readily given her consent, 
moreover, I believe this course would have been the best. 

It did not prove a good location for the practice of medicine, 
or the sale of drugs ; but unluckily for us, Mr. Grearinger 
made his appearance at the appointed time at the Spilman 
residence, and agreed to sell the property at our offer. We 
had agreed to give twelve hundred dollars for it; the bargain 
was closed at once ; the deed was made, and the property con- 
veyed to my wife. A few days afterwards we moved our house- 
hold goods into the old dilapidated log cabin. 

Reader, do you believe in dreams and omens? If this 
question was put to myself, I am not prepared to say that I 
do, nor am I prepared to deny that there may be some myster- 
ious connection between our sleeping visions and the actual 
realities of life. 

One night, during the winter preceding our removal, I 
dreamed that we had moved into an old building of the most 
primitive style. It was situated in the state of Indiana. The 
floor of this old structure was bulged in the center, and the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 271 



edifice itself was in the most dilapidated condition. In the 
rear lay a garden of the richest soil, and in this garden was 
about half a dozen stalks of corn of large growth ; but the ears 
had been plucked off, and the stalks were dry and withered. 
To me the premises had a desolate and doleful appearance, 
and I felt downcast and sad to think that I was compelled to 
inhabit such an inferior residence as this. On the other hand, 
my wife appeared happy and cheerful, and while she was en- 
gaged in her household duties, she was singing a familiar 
hymn. I awoke, and behold ! it was st dream. 

I dreamed again ; and the visions of my head returned unto 
me : We had moved into an old log cabin which was situated 
about half a mile south of the city of Wheeling. No orna- 
ments decorated its walls, no furniture was to be found in it ; 
but there were several piles of bed-clothing lying on the floor. 
The city was plainly visible ; it made a splendid appearance ; 
its streets were lined with costly edifices and luxurious man- 
sions ; its spires and steeples glittered in the bright sunshine. 
All the comforts and luxuries of life were near me — almost 
within my grasp, while I was living in this miserable hut. I 
awoke, and found it a dream. Have my visions been real- 
ized? 

Soon after moving into this old shanty, I commenced the 
erection of a building twenty-eight feet wide, thirty long, and 
ten feet high up to the square. The roof was to be gothic in 
style, one half pitch, thus giving an upper story thirty feet long 
and twelve feet wide, sufficient for two rooms. The lower story 
was to be divided into four chambers. This edifice was ready 
to be plastered by the middle of July, when we moved into it, 
I also made some improvements on the farm, and designed to 
follow the occupation of farming in connection with the prac- 
tice of medicine. The expense of building, however, reduced 
our funds, and I soon found that I would be compelled to rent 
the farm. Moreover, I was not a farmer by occupation, and 
was uncertain whether or not I would be successful. We there- 
fore rented the land, except about two acres which we worked 
ourselves, to Jacob Grearinger, a relative of the gentleman of 
whom we had purchased the property. Mr. Grearinger raised 
a fair crop, but he only gave the corn about half the necessary 



272 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

plowing, and there were from one to ten stocks of corn in each 
hill. I call such farming a one horse Jmsiiiess. 

About the last of June, I was called to Syracuse on business, 
and found that an epidemic of typhoid fever had made its ap- 
pearance at that place, and a number of persons were affected 
with it. My friends were all well pleased to see me once more, 
and at once started me in business, and within a few days I 
had several professional calls. Having attended to my affairs, 
earned and collected sufficient funds to pay my traveling ex- 
penses, I once more bid my friends farewell, and returned to 
Indiana. Soon after my return, I received several letters from 
my friends at Syracuse, stating that my services were renuired 
at that place, as the epidemic was on the increase. I at once 
decided to leave my family for a time, return to Syracuse, and 
practice medicine there. I boarded a train on the 28th of 
July and in due time reached my destination. I opened an 
office in one room of Hudson and Roushes' residence, and 
boarded with James Ewing, and was soon very busy treating a 
number of cases of typhoid fever at Syracuse and Minersville. 
I was kept very busy for about two months. There was a pro- 
trated case of this fever at Minersville, the patient being a 
married man about twenty-six years old. The disease was ar- 
rested about the close of the third week ; but no sooner was he 
clear of fever than he asked me if he could have a taste of 
peaches. As there was an abundance of this fruit and general- 
ly of a good quality, I gave my consent, supposing that he 
would procure a ripe peach. His wife, however, procured a sup- 
ply of the poorest quality that could be found in the market, 
and he ate a few of these rind and all. The result of this feast 
was an attack of peritoritis, and in spite of all that I could do 
for him, he died about two days afterwards. 

This case, which is the only one I lost during this period at 
Syracuse, is reported as a warning to those who ma}'' be con- 
valescing of typhoid fever. Do not eat green fruit, or fruit of 
a poor quality especially the rind. 

My professional labors closed witli three cases of obstetrics, 
during the last week of this i)eriod. The major portion of my 
leisure hours was spent in study, fhereby hoping to keep up 
with the times, and render myself proficient in the science of 
medicine. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 273 



About the 28th of September, I once more bid farewell to 
my friends at Syracuse, not knowing but it might be the last 
farewell, and was soon wending my way to the swamps of In- 
diana, I reached Ridgeville, which is about six miles south 
of Collett, in due time, but was detained at that place about 
two hours. I reached CoUeU about nine o'clock in the even- 
ing and was glad to be at home with my family once more. I 
had hoped to find them in good health, but a few days pre- 
vious to my arrival, my wife and Mattie had contractsd the 
intermittent fever. Perhaps I did not sympathize with them 
as I should have done. I had warned them in rogard to the 
locality. For more than a year previous to our removal to 
Indiana, I had repeatedly informed them in regard to the 
unhealthy condition of that State. They were old enough to 
understand. I did my duty, however, as a husband and father. 
At the proper time, I administered a few large doses of quinine, 
and the fever was soon abated. It may have been well for 
myself, that I was living in Ohio during the sickly season in 
the Hoosier State. 

Late in the summer and fall, water is scarce in this section 
of Indiana. Near the old log- hut two holes had been dug wiih 
the intention of obtaining a well. These holes had been 
walled up, but the walls had caved in, thereby causing a deep 
depression in the surface of the ground. One of these afford- 
ed water during the winter, spring, and early summer, but late 
in the summer and fall it was dry. It was evident that I 
would have to dig a well, if I continued to reside in this 
locality, and soon after my return from Syracuse, I employed 
a few men and commenced digging for water. After digging 
twenty feet I procured a dirt auger, and bored ten feet further 
striking a vein of water. I then dug to this vein and obtained 
an abundant supply, but it was impregnated with mineral sub- 
stances, and was of a poor quality. The water flowed in so 
rapidly that it kept us bu^y building the wall to keep out of 
the wny. This well contained fifteen feet of water even in dry 
weather. 

During my sojourn in Indiana I had some professional busi- 
ness, but it was not lucrative. I could have had more practice 
had I been well prepared, and had I not been otherwise engaged. 

35 



274 AUTOBIOGRAPHY (>F 



I can not close this period of ray narrative without making 
mention of the numerous snakes which infested this locality. I 
think that, during the summer, my sons, George and Mott, 
killed about one hundred of these reptiles. The black snakes, 
(the C(ilul>er amfitricior) were the most numerous. The common 
snake (Natrix torquata) was also abundant. One hoop or 
jointed snake was seen. I do not remember of seeing any 
rattlesnakes, (Crotaliis haridus.) 

One bright summer day, we were much surprised at Mott, 
who came running into the house crying out : "Mother, a 
snake, a sn;ike ! where is George?" Mott and Sophia were in 
the wood about two hundred 3'ards from the house and came 
across a black snake. Sophia remained to watch his snake- 
ship while Mott ran to the house to seek George to assist in 
killing the snake. George was soon at the scene of action. In 
the meantime the snake was eying my daughter with sus- 
picion, George with hoe in hand, as David Crockett said: 
"Severed his 'tarnal head from his all tail of a body." This 
reptile measured six feet in length. 

About the 20th of October, hard frost made its appearance. 
The winters in Jay county are usuall}' severe. The ground 
generally freezes in November, and remains in a frozen condi- 
tion till the middle of March. Such weather is conducive to 
good health in that locality. As my funds were now getting 
low, I determined to return to Syracuse, and follow my pro- 
fession, leaving my family in Indiana. On mentioning my 
plans to my wife, she objected to my being away from home 
during the inclement winter weather; and, on thinking over 
our affairs, she came to the conclusion that we had better move 
to Ohio. I readily agreed with her. About the last of Octo- 
ber, we packed up our household goods, which were easily 
transported, bade farewell to our relatives and new made 
friends in the Hoosier State, boarded a train, and wended our 
way to Syracuse, reaching our destination the first week in 
November. 

I was now once more in Syracuse, but felt cast down in re- 
gard to my future prospects. I felt like the peacock when he 
has shed his tail feathers, but unlike that fowl, I did not hide 
myself from public observation. How different is my situa- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 275 



tion and financial circumstances now from what they were 
eighteen months previous. I was then residing in an elegant 
and comfortable residence. I enjoyed many of the comforts 
and some of the luxuries of life. More than all this, I had a 
very fair prospect of making money. My wife owned prop- 
erty in her own right worth at least two thousand dollars. She 
was the owner of a good drug store, and was doing a fair and 
lucrative busines*, I was enjoying an excellent practice. All 
this is now changed, we live in a house for which we pay rent; 
my son is out of employment ; my horse is sold, and I am now 
compelled either to hire a horse to attend to mj'^ practice at 
Minersville i~nd in the country, ride in the 'bus or watch for a 
good opportunity and walk. Moreover, my absence from Syra- 
cuse during the sickly season mentioned, gave my competitors 
an opportunity of establishing themselves more firmly in their 
profession. Notwithstanding these disi^ouraging circumstan- 
ces, I again offered my professional services to the citizens of 
this locality, and went to work with a will. 

Beginning with a call next day after our arrival, I at once 
had a fair amount of professional business. During the re- 
mainder of this year my practice was fair, and I collected a 
sufficient amount of my earnings to meet all my expenses in- 
cluding the rent. 

We were now the owners of two thrifty young orchards, 
nevertheless we were compelled to buy our fruit. The frost 
killed our fruit in Indiana, . and the mischieveous young 
urchins, commonly known as the "small boy," destroyed it in 
Syracuse. 

During the winter and spring of 1875, my professional busi- 
ness was good at Syracuse and also at Minersville. I think I 
had nearly all the practice in the latter place. An epidemic 
of catarrhal fever had broken out in both these villages together 
with a few cases of pneumonia. The result was that I was 
kept very busy attending to my professional labors. 

Early in the spring Dr. Edward H. Trickle, of Racine, located 
at Syracuse with the object of practicing medicine. On the 
breaking out of the rebellion. Dr. Trickle enlisted as a private 
in company E, of the Fourth West Virginia Regiment, and 
was appointed one of the corporals of that company. On the 



276 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



19th of March, 1863, he was promoted to be Second Lieutenant 
of company I of the same regiment, and in that capacity 
he faithfully served the government till the expiration of his 
term of enlistment. Some time after the close of the war, 
comrade Trickle studied medicine under the preceptorship of 
Dr. John R. Philson, of Racine and afterwards attended a 
Medical College, and received his diploma as Doctor of Medi- 
cine. He and I were on ver}' good terms.' He was well re- 
spected as a physician, and obtained a fair amount of practice 
at Syracuse. He practiced medicine here about two years, 
and then returned to Racine. 

Dr. Trickle was a very fair competitor; yet, notwithstand- 
ing his opposition, I had a sufficient number of patients to 
keep me busy during the remainder of this year. My busi- 
ness was sufficiently extensive to require the use of a horse. 
I purchased a horse, saddle and bridle of Jonas Ervin for 
ninety dollars, giving him therefor my promissory note. My 
financial affiiirs improved during this year, regardless of op- 
position, dull times, and slow collections, and by the 1st of 
November 1 had. after keeping up my expenses, a small sur- 
plus of funds laid by. 

About the first week in November we learned that our 
affairs in Indiana were not in good condition. In view of 
this, niy wife visited our relatives at Collett. Soon after 
erecting the residence on our farm in Indiana we had light- 
ning-rods put up, expecting to pay for this improvement from 
the proceeds of the farm ; but, on her arrival, my wife found 
that these fixtures had not been paid for. She paid the 
claim, attended to some other details in regard to the prop- 
erty, and then returned home, having been absent eight or ten 
days. Her expenses during this visit was thirty dollars. 

Some time during the succeeding winter Daniel Miller, re- 
siding near Collett, oflered us fifteen hundred dollars for our 
property in Indiana, the purchase money to be paid in install- 
ments. This was a fair price for it, but we desired to make 
the sale a cash transaction, and no bargain was eflected. 

The spring of 1876 opened up with a fair prospect of suc- 
cess in my profession. I was now the owner of an excellent 
horse, and had paid a part of the purchase money. I was 



THOS. H. BARTON. 277 



using my utmost endeavors to build up a lucrative practice; 
but notwithstanding my efforts, I was destined to meet with 
some reverses. 

Prior to our removal to Indiana, as already stated in this 
chapter, I sold my horse at private sale. I disposed of the 
animal to James Ewing, whom I have mentioned as practic- 
ing law before justices' courts, taking his promissory note for 
seventy dollars, with Jacob Grim as security. The note was 
about two years past due; and on the 16th of March, at the 
urgent request of my wife, I planted a suit against Ewing 
and Grim before Isaac Carleton, a justice of the peace in and 
for Sutton township, for the sum of eighteen dollars and thir- 
teen cents, it being the balance then due on the note. I had 
boarded with Mr. Ewing during my visit to Syracuse in the 
summer of 1874. and I had used his horse a number of times 
in my professional business, and had given him credit on the 
note for these items. I filed the note with the justice as a 
bill of particulars. The case was set for hearing on the 21st. 
On the day appointed for trial we met at the magistrate's 
office, and, at the instance of Mr. Ewing, the case was 
adjourned till early in April, when the defendant again ad- 
journed the case, and he continued to adjourn it from time to 
time until the first of August, when he filed his bill of set-off. 
He brought up two or three items of account which had been 
previously settled. Among these was a claim of three dollars for 
moving my sister-in-law to Chester, with which I had nothing 
to do. Moreover, he received his pay for this service from my 
sister-in-law, my books showing a plain statement. His claim 
for horse hire was put at eleven trips to Minersville at one 
dollar a trip; that is, every time I used the horse to make a 
professional visit was counted as one day's service for the 
animal, the distance being about three miles, going and re- 
turning. 

The case finally came up for trial on the 5th of August, and 
was tried before a jury. I was affected that day with the sick 
headache and was unfit to attend to a suit at law, it being all 
that I could do to give in my testimony, 

Mr. Ewing testified, in substance, that I had the use of his 
horse eleven trips to Minersvillej that I received the animal 



278 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



about nine o'clock in the morning, returning about three 
o'clock in the afternoon, and that this would make a day in 
hiring a horse. M}' own testimony was substantially as fol- 
lows : That when I first engaged the animal Mr. Ewing said 
that he would make the charges reasonable, but that he would 
expect more compensation than the regular 'bus fare, which 
was twenty cents for going and returning; that on every oc- 
casion but two I received the horse about nine o'clock in the 
forenoon, returning between twelve and one o'clock, thus giv- 
ing time for Hudson and Roush to fill my prescriptions and 
send them to Minersville by the 'l)us in the afternoon ; that on 
one occasion I received the animal about nine o'clock in the 
morning and returned next day about seven, and that on an- 
other occasion I was absent from four in the afternoon till 
eight in the evening; that one dollar a day was a reasonable 
charge, and that I was willing to pay for the use of the 
horse at that rate for the actual time engaged, and that 
the distance traveled averaged about two miles and a half. 

I was represented by John Borham, Mr. Ewing by Calvin 
DeWolf. Of these artists at law, perhaps jMr. DeWolf was the 
best pettifogger before a Justice of the Peace. In this case at 
any rale Mr. Swing's counsel was more shrewd than mine. 
Testimony was introduced, without any objection on the part 
of Mr. Borham, concerning the price of horse-hire by the day, 
but I do not remember anything being said in regard to the 
short distance which the animal had to travel in this case. 
Even testimony was introduced showing what one of our liv- 
ery men charged lor a horse and carriage to go and return 
from Middleport, at least three times the distance to and from 
Minersville. I make no reflection in regard to the Justice. No 
objections were made by counsel, and such testimon}' had a 
tendency to mislead the jury. 

The testimony being heard by the jury, the case was ready 
for the pleadings of the attorneys. Herein my counsel allow- 
ed his o{)])onent to get the advantage. 

The counsel having firn'shed his plea, Mr. DeWolf rose. It 
was not like the rising of Burke in the British Parliament, but 
all the same it was fatal to my case. Mr. DeWolf said "that 
as I was the plaintiff in the case, in order to establish my 



THOS. H. BARTON. 279 



claim I would have to have a preponderance of evidence; 
and that as I had admitted a part of the claim, I was liahle for 
the whole amount." My attorney made no objection to this 
false pleading. He should have maintained, that as the de- 
fendants had a set-off against me, in order to establish their 
claim, they should produce a preponderance of testimony. The 
jury rendered a verdict against me for one dollar and fifteen 
cents, and the costs of the suit. 

I appealed the case to the Court of Common Pleas, and filed 
my petition in court by an able attorney of the Meigs county 
bar. The case was adjourned from one session of the court to 
another till the spring of 1879. In the meantime, during my 
absence, my counsel allowed Jacob Grim to be dismissed as a 
co-defendant, thus throvving out the only responsible party. I 
thought strange of this, as at the Justices Court, he was in- 
strumental in retaining Grim as a co-defendant. Meanwhile, 
I was preparing for trial, and wrote a number of questions for 
Ewing to answer when he came to give his testimony, which, 
in all probability would have impeached him. The case how- 
ever, never came to a hearing in court. About the 20th of 
May, 1879, Mr. Ewing left this world of strife, contention, and 
law-suits, and quietly passed to a world where strife and con- 
tention is unknown. 

At a future session of the court, my attorney informed me 
that he had duly summoned Grim to appear in court; and, 
having failed to answer the summons, he had obtained a judg- 
ment by default against him for eighteen dollars and thirteen 
cents in my favor. He claimed, however, that there was some 
error in the proceedings, and that it was best for me to keep 
quiet in regard to the matter, as the case might, within three 
years, be reopened. Several years afterwards, I applied to my 
counsel for an execution against the defendant. Now, kind 
reader, what do you suppose that my counsel told me? He 
said : "I have no recollection of this judgment against Grim !" 
He then looked up his record of judgments, and failed to find 
it. His action speaks for itself, and needs no further com- 
ment. 

******* 

In 1876 the financial panic was severely felt in the western 



280 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 

states. The government was gradually preparing for the re- 
sumption of specie payments. Hence the stringency of the 
money market. Property was rapidly depreciating in value. 
Business of all kinds was almost at a stand-still. It was ex- 
tremely difficult for those, who had contracted debts during 
the war and immediately afterwards, to meet their financial 
obligations. It was difficult, and in many instances impos- 
sible to make collections. This state of affairs was severely 
felt by myself. I had bub little time to attend to the collection 
of my just dues, and many of my patrons were very negligent 
in this respect, and for sometime I received but a small pit- 
tance from those who were indebted to me. To aid me in 
my finances, my wife, sometime during the preceding au- 
tumn, sold an acre of her land in Indiana to Daniel Miller, of 
Collett, for eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, but this was 
only a temporary relief. 

For several years during the period of which I am now writ- 
ing, the game of croquet was a favorite recreation among the 
young a^nd middle aged of both sexes. The game was played 
extensively both at Syracuse and Minersville. At first I did 
not like the game, but would occasionally be persuaded to take 
part in this harmless amusement. For some time, however, I 
could see nothing amusing in it. I was slow in learning to 
play, and understanding the science of the game, and was very 
awkward in handling the mallet, I gradually became fond of 
the exercise ; it afforded me some recreation during my leisure 
hours. Although awkward at first, I kept on trying, until I 
became thoroughly acquainted with the rules and the use of 
the mallet, I played more or less every day when the weathSr 
was- fair, and by dint of perseverence, became an excellent 
player. Playing croquet, however, did not prevent my attend- 
ing church, and during these years I was a regular attendant 

jit divine service. 

******** 

I now approach an event of my life, so solemn and sad, that 
although the frosts of thirteen winters have passed aw'ay, the 
occurrence is still fresh in my memory. I had met with 
financial reverses. I had sustained pecuniary losses, but now 
I am about to experience a greater loss. Once more I am 



THOS. H. BARTON. 281 



about to be separated from a near and dear companion ; on(!e 
more the cold earth is about to close over the one I loved 
best. 

Since our marriage, my wife's health had usually been good. 
She had apparently recovered from the malarial fever. In the 
summer of 1875 she had an attack of dysentery, and my 
brother James, who still resided at Addison, was called to 
treat her. From this I think she also recovered. During the 
ensuing winter she contracted, as I then supposed, a mild 
catarrh, which was accompanied with a dry cough. At first I 
thought there was nothing serious, but she gradually grew 
worse, and I commenced treating her. My treatment did not 
prove eflective ; the cough became more troublesome ; her 
body gradually commenced to waste away, and by the latter 
part of the succeeding summer, it became an evident fact that 
she was affected with that terrible disease, pulmonary con- 
sutnption. I then employed eminent counsel, but our united 
efforts proved unavailing. She still continued to fail ; her 
breathing became more difficult ; the cough was nearly inces- 
sent ; her sputa became thick and tenacious, and when the 
frosts of winter made their appearance, it was plainly evident 
that her earthly existence was only a question of timj. I now 
began to abandon all hopes of her recovery, but nevertheless, 
I kept her constantly under treatment first by one physician 
and then another. Altogether there were six physicians who 
treated her and gave her advice. During the month of De- 
cember, and early part of January, 1877, she continued to fail 
rapidly, and about the middle of the latter month she was con- 
fined to her bed. Her respiration was extremely rapid on the 
least exertion, and it was with the greatest difficulty that she 
raised the sputa from her lungs. During all this time her ap- 
petite was fair, and her stomach could digest light articles of 
food. She gradually failed in strength till the twentieth of 
February, when I became convinced that her earthly suffer- 
ings would soon be over. 

******* 

It is evening, and about the seventh hour. I am now aware 
that the supreme moment has come. For the second time I 
am standing by the dying bedside of a kind and loving com- 

35 



282 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



panion. She has been the partner of my life for many years, 

but this union is now about to be forever severed. She is 

face to face with the grim monster. A lady who is standing 

near her bedside speaks to her : " Emily, is Jesus with you? " 

A kind and loving Savior is with her, but she cannot say so. 

She tries to speak, but the power of utterance fails; her lips 

move, but they utter no sound. In token of her faith in her 

Redeemer, she raises her thin and emaciated arms towards 

heaven, and clasps her hands together, as if she means to say : 

"Jesus is with me; he is my friend and comforter in a dying 

hour, and I will soon be asleep in Jesus." 

******* 

A half hour more, and all is over. The spirit has left its 
enrthly tenen)ent and taken its flight to the realms of bliss. 
The burial services, conducted by the Rev. Henry Berkstresser, 
of the M. E. Church, took ))lace from the Presbyterian Church. 
The church vvas crowded with the friends and relatives of the 
deceased. Rev. Berkstresser preached a very touching and 
approj)riate sermon from the latter clause of the second verse 
of the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of St. John: "In my 
father's house are many mansions." Everything connected 
with tli(i sad obsequies was eloquent of the loving esteem in 
which my dear companion was held. After the last sad rite 
had been performed at the church, all that was mortal of that 
once vigorous and noble woman was hiid to rest in the Syra- 
cuse cemetery, in the presence of her sorrowing friends and 
relatives. 

I returned from the solemn ceremonial weighed down with 
sorrow and affliction. My liousehold affairs went on as usual : 
the fire burned brightly, the lamps cast a radiant glow of light 
in our humble domicile, but the familiar form of m\' loving 
companion could be seen no more. Her life-work is ac- 
complished ; her njission is ended ; her spirit is asleep in 
Jesus. 

" Asleep ill Jesus: blessed sleep 
From which none ever wake to weep ; 
A ealm and undisturbed repose, 
Unbroken by the last of foes." 



THOS. H. BARTON. 283 



CHAPTER XVI. 



TREATMENT OF PAUPERS. — LITIGATION. 

During the years that have elapsed since the war, I have 
treated a great many paupers, and received compensation there- 
for from the township or county ; and I have been regarded by 
the trustees of Sutton Township, and the infirmary directors of 
Meigs county as a prominent character in regard to reporting 
paupers to the authorities for the purpose of securing che fees 
for my professional services. My narrative would be incom- 
plete unless this part of my professional career be stated in de- 
tail, and I therefore propose to give ray readers an unbiased ac- 
count of this important branch of my business. 

In order to make the subject clear, I shall go back to 
Leon, Virginia. At the time of which I write, the paupers 
in that state who stood in need of medical or surgical treat- 
ment were reported to an officer called an overseer of the 
poor, there being one such officer in each district. These 
officers held a quarterly or annual meeting, and paid the 
claims of the several physicians for treating poor and indi- 
gent persons. While at Leon I received compensation in a 
few such cases. 

One year, during my residence at Leon, a physician who 
resided at Point Pleasant was elected overseer of the poor. 
He succeeded in getting the other overseers to come to an 
agreement that no claim for treating paupers should be al- 
lowed unless notice was given to the overseers at the com- 
mencement of the treatment. The other physicians, being 
ignorant of this agreement, failed to receive any compensa- 
tion during that year for their services, while the Point 
Pleasant physician received a large amount from the poor 
fund. I was among the number of those who lost their fees for 
ireating the poor. I do not think that I received any com- 
pensation for such services during that year. 

While at Chester, Ohio, I reported only one case to the 
Trustees of that Township, but the trustees refu!?ed to recog- 
nize the person as a pauper unless his father reported him as 
Buch, which was done accordingly, and in due time I received 



284 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 

my fees. After locating at Syracuse, I reported no such cases 
prior to the war. 

About one year after ray return from the array, I reported 
one patient, who resided at Minersville. Tlie Minersvilie 
trustee, however, rejected ray claira without making any 
further inquiry in regard to the merits of the case, and the 
claim was not reported to the board of trustees. In 1867, I 
received ray first raedical fees frora the Trustees of Sutton 
Township for treating a pauper. The patient resided near 
Syracuse, and I received an order from the Township Trustees 
for $11.50 for my services including medicines. From this 
time to the first of April, 1875, our trustees were very liberal to 
the poor, and paid my claims in pauper cases in every instance 
except two. One of these was a transient pauper, and ray 
account was rejected by the board on that ground. In anotber 
case, ray bill was cut down and I lost a part of it. My books 
show tbat I received ray fees in full for a number of cases du- 
ring this period. 

The following case is related in detail in order to show the 
action of the townfrhip trustees and infirmary directors in the 
premises. 

During the last week in January, 1869, a raan who resided 
in Syracuse, received a dangerous injury from a fall from one 
of the salt cisterns belonging to the Syracuse Coal and Salt 
Company. Dr. Teters was iraraed lately called to treat the 
case, but the patient being in a dangerous condition, Dr. 
Rathburn, of Middleport, was employed to treat him. On 
account of tlie severe and dangerous nature of the case. Dr. 
Rathburn persuaded his pntient to einploy ine as an assistant. 
I was to treat the case during Rathburn's absence, and to 
assist him during his pi^ofessional visits. The patient was 
very poor, and the case was likely to be protracted for an in- 
definite length of time; and I therefore, on the fifth of Febru- 
ary, 1870, reported him as a pauper to the trustees of Sutton 
Township who immediately took charge of the case, but in- 
stead of reporting hlra forthwith to the Infirmary Directors, 
as is required by law, they kept him under their own care till 
the first of March. Tbe trustees then settled witli rae, i)aid 
my fees in full, and reported the case to the Infirraury Directors. 



TfiOS. H. BARToiJ. 285 



Henry Bartels and Lewis Hudson delivered the report of 
the trustees to one of the Infirmary Directors, explained the 
nature of the case and also informed him that I was treating 
the patient. He replied — I give his exact language : "Tell 
Dr. Barton to continue treating the case, and I will settle with 
him for his services. I expect to be there to see him in person 
in less than ten days." On his return Mr. Hudson informed 
me in regard to what the Infirmar}^ Director said, and I con- 
tinued to treat the case until the 15th of April. I presented 
my account to the infirmary directors at their June session. 
My account was upwards of thirty dollars, but I do not now 
remember whether or not I claimed the amount in full. Be 
this as it may, they oSered to pay me only ten dollars for my 
services in this case. It was one of the hardest and most 
dangerous cases that ever fell to my lot to treat. From the 
very beginning the patient required the most careful atten- 
tion to save his life. The case was of such a nature that I was 
compelled to visit him at night as well as in the day time in 
order to relieve him from excruciating pain. Besides my 
regular visits, which were made once or twice a day, I was 
frequently sent for by the patient himself. I therefore, rejected 
the pitiful offer of ten dollars for six weeks professional 
services, and decided to test my rights as a physician; and, if 
possible compel this infimary director to do as he agreed. 
Accordingly, I brought suit against the Board of Directors of 
Meigs County. The case was tried before 'Squire Lee, of 
Pomeroy, a Justice of the Peace in and for Salisbury Town- 
ship. Upon hearing the testimony, the magistrate imme- 
diately rendered a judgment in my favor for the amount of 
my claim and for costs. 

The Infirmary Directors not being satisfied with the decision 
of the Justice, appealed the case to the Court of Common 
Pleas of Meigs County. In due time the case came up for 
hearing in this Court, when the opposing attorney learned that 
Dr. Rathburn had written some of the prescriptions. These 
amounted to about five dollars, and this amount was deducted 
from my claim, and I obtained a judgment for the balance, 
the cost being taxed to the county. 

From this time till the first of April 1874, I had no further 



286 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



trouble with the trustees or directors. Durin^ this period the 
trustees of Sutton Township allowed all the claims that I 
presented to them, but my claims against them were few 
in number and small in amount. The township clerk's 
record for the year 1874, shows that one physician received 
from the pauper fund the snug sum of $44.20. A part of 
this, however, was for provisions furnished. It is not de- 
signed to cast any reflections on the trustees in regard to their 
action in this case, but to show their liberality to the poor, and 
the respect shown the physician who treated the case. 

The year 1874, was a prosperous one for some of the physi- 
cians who practiced in Sutton Township, and also for the 
druggists who dispensed the medicines. The public funds 
flowed into their coffers like milk and honey to the Israelites 
of old. One physician received the round sura of $59.00 for 
his services treating one pauper, besides fees in a few other 
cases. Another physician received $26.00 for treating a single 
pauper, and one drug firm received the snug sura of $41.40 for 
raedicines furnisheil to one pauper, besides several other 
physicians and druggists received a fair amount from the 
poor fund, while I reported only one pauper, and was compen- 
sated in the insignificant amount of $6.10 for ray services in- 
cluding raedicines. This was the only claim I had against the 
trustees during that year. 

In 1875, the township record shows that I received $29.50 
for ray professional services among the poor. I received ray 
just dues during this year, but had sorae difficulty in collecting 
this araount in consequence of one of the trustees, who resided 
at Racine, regarding rae with disfavor. 

As already stated, I had a suit at law with the Infirmary 
Directors of Meigs County. At a future period I had a con- 
troversy in the newspapers with one of the directors, and after- 
wards had a legal difficulty with the trustees of Sutton Town- 
ship. In order that the reader may fully understand the merits 
of the controversy, I will give the law prescribing the duties 
of township trustees and infirmary directors in relation to the 
poor. In the session of 1875-6, a law was passed by the Gen- 
eral Assembly of the State of Ohio, entitled : "An act for the 
relief of the poor, and to repeal certain acts." This law is 



THOS. H. BARTON. 28? 



found in the 73d annual volume of the Laws of Ohio, and is 
contained in the following sections of the Revised Statutes of 
1880. 

"Sec. 1491. The trustees of each township in the state shall 
afford, at the expense of their township, public support or 
relief to all persons therein, who may be in condition requir- 
ing the same, subject to the conditions, provisions, and limita- 
tions herein. 

"Sec. 1494. When a person in the township is in condition 
requiring public relief, or the services of a physician or sur- 
geon, complaint thereof shall be forthwith made to the town- 
ship trustees, by some person having knowledge of the fact; 
if medical service is required, the physician or surgeon called 
or attending shall immediately notify the trustees, or one of 
them, in writing, that he is attending a pauper, and thereupon 
the township shall be liable for all relief and for services ren- 
dered, which may thereafter be afforded to such person, only 
in such amount as the trustees determine to be just and rea- 
sonable ; but if such notice be not given witnin three days 
after such relief is afforded, or service begins, then said town- 
ship shall be liable for such reliefer service only, as may be 
rendered after notice has been given, but the trustees, or one 
of them, may at anytime order the discontinuance of such 
service or relief, and they shall not be liable for any services or 
relief thereafter rendered. 

"Sec. 1495. When complaint is made, as aforesaid, to the 
trustees of a township, that any person therein requires public 
relief or support, one or more of the trustees shall visit the 
person needing relief, forthwith, to ascertain the name, age, 
sex, birth-place, length of residence, previous habits, and pre- 
sent condition of such person, and especially in what town- 
ship and county in this State, if any, he or she is legally set- 
tled." 

Section 1496 provides for the care and disposition of non- 
resident paupers, and section 1497, provides for keeping ac- 
curate accounts of all expenses incurred for the relief of the 
poor. 

"Sec. 1498. No account shall ever be audited or allowed to 
the trustees of a township for the support of the poor, unless 



288 AtJTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



the same be accompanied by the proper voucher, verified by 
the claimant or his agent, and duly certified by said trustees." 

The following sections prescribe the duties of the infirmary 
directors. 

''Sec. 974. When, in any county having an infirmary, the 
trustees of a township shall, after making the inquiry provided 
for, be of the opinion that the person complained of is in a 
condition requiring public relief, they shall forthwith transmit 
a statement of said facts, together with the amount of relief 
furnished, if any, so far as they have been able to ascertain the 
same, to the superintendent of the infirmary ; and if it appears 
that such alleged pauper is legally settled in said township, or 
has no legal settlement in this State, or that such settlement 
is unknown, and the superintendent is satisfied that said 
alleged pauper requires public relief, he shall forthwith receive 
said pauper, and provide for him or her in said institution, 
and furnish transportation for said pauper to the infirmary; 
and thereupon the directors shall certify to the correctness of 
the items contained in the bill of said trustees, for costs and 
expenses incurred by them in affording temporary relief to 
said pauper ; and if such statement of facts, so ascertained by 
said trustees, is transmitted to the superintendent of the in- 
firmary within five days after the same came to their knowl- 
edge, then said bill of such trustees shall be paid out of the 
poor fund of the county upon the warrant of the auditor there- 
of ; but the directors may discharge any inmate of the in- 
firmary. 

"Sec. 975. If. in any case, the directors are of the opinion 
that the condition of said pauper is such as to render his or 
her removal inexpedient, 6r to require temporary or partial 
relief only, they shall endorse the fact upon said warrant, and 
direct the trustees to keep, and afford the pauper such relief, 
in such manner and upon such reasonable terms as the direc- 
tors prescribe, until the removal of the pauper becomes expe- 
dient, or when partial or temporary relief only is required, 
until the necessity therefor ceases ; and the trustees shall notify 
said infirmary directors when such pauper can be safely re- 
moved, or when such temporary relief is no longer required; 
such warrant, so issued, shall be by the clerk of the board of 



THOS. H. BARTON. 289 



directors numbered and filed, and the directors shall certify to 
the correctness ol the items contained in the bill of the said 
trustees, for costs and charges incurred by them in affording 
relief to said paupers, after complaint was made, which bill 
shall be paid on the warrant of the county auditor; and the 
failure of said trustees to transmit a statement of facts to the 
directors, as herein contemplated, within ten days, shall 
render such township liable for such relief as has been fur- 
nished." 

The above laws were passed by the General Assembly of the 
State of Ohio, as alread}'' stated, during the session of 1875-6, 
except section 974, which was passed at the succeeding session 
of 1876-7. Section 974 supplies or amends a section wherein 
it was obligatory on township trustees to report their paupers 
to the infi-mary directors of the county. 

In 1876, one of the trustees of Sutton Township, who resided 
at Racine, took a decided stand against me, and appeared de- 
termined to make me lose my fees for treating the poor at 
Syracuse and Minersville. In his action against me, he went 
beyond his duty as a public officer. There was an arrange- 
ment among the trustees that each of them was to attend to 
the wants of the poor in his respective precinct, that is, the 
trustee who lived at Racine looked after the poor in that pre- 
cinct, and the trustees to Syracuse and Minersville did the 
same in their respective localities. The township was thus 
about evenly divided between them. In any case, however, 
the Racine trustee wanted to assume the ruling power, and 
the other trustees would sometimes agree with him, and I 
would thus be compelled to lose the whole or part of my fees 
for treating the poor. His mode of proceedure was as follows : 
When I presented my accounts to the board for settlement, 
the Racine trustee would inquire of the one to whom I re- 
ported the case : "Did you order Dr. Barton to treat this 
case?" The other trustee, if such was the fact, would reply : 
"No, I never ordered Dr. Barton to treat this case." My friend 
from Racine would then say to me : "Doctor, we never ordered 
you to treat this casfe, and we cannot pay you for your servi- 
ces." The other trustees would generally acquiese in his deci- 
sion, notwithstanding they wished me to be paid my just dues. 

37 



290 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



I differed from the trustees on this point, and argued the 
case with them. I contended that when a physician reported 
a pauper to the township trustees, there was then an implied 
contract; that the trustees were liable for his fees unless they 
saw fit to discharge him, and that there was no necessity for 
the trustees, or either of them, to order the physician to treat a 
pauper. I explained the law to them, but the}'' paid ver}^ little 
attention to my explanation, and I lost a portion of my pro- 
fessional fees by this unlawful ruling of the trustees. They 
finally gave up this illegal ruling, and adopted another plan, 
which was as follows : When I reported a pauper to them, 
they would immediately report the case to the infirmary 
directors, in order to save the township from expense. When 
I presented my account to the. trustees, they, through their 
leader, would be willing to allow my claim up to the time that 
the case was reported to the directors, at the same time telling 
me to look to the infirmary directors for the balance of my 
fees. I argued the point with them, contending that their 
ruling was not in accordance with the letter and spirit of the 
statutes, and that turning a pauper over to the infirmary 
directors did not relieve the trustees from liability. To save 
future trouble, I adopted another plan. When called upon 
by those who were poor, I would notify the trustees, or one of 
them, in writing, that I was attending a pauper, and after- 
wards report the case to the infirmary directors ; but I soon 
found that this was a poor way to do, for by the time the 
infirmary directors received their notice, some cases would be 
discharged as cured, while others would be in a fairway to 
recover. The trustees would pay for one or two visits, and 
the directors would pay after being notified. In the mean- 
time, however, I would lose my fees for a few visits. In this 
way I was defrauded in several cases during this year. 

In 1877, I met another antagonist, who opposed the collec- 
tion of my fees in pauper cases. W. H. Jones, one of the in- 
firmary directors of Meigs county, took up the cudgel, and 
used it against me with all his power. I will give an illus- 
tration of his mode of proceeding. On the 8th of January, I 
was called to treat a man who lived at Minersville, and who 
stood in need of public relief I visited the patient, and re- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 291 



ported him to one of our trustees, and the trustee reported 
him to the infirmary directors. I saw the case on the 9th and 
again on the 11th and 13th. I think it was while on the latter 
visit, that I found Mr. Jones at the patient's residence. My 
patient showed signs of improvement, nevertheless the direc- 
tor notified me that my professional services were no longer 
required. He discharged me against the wishes of the patient 
and his friends, and employed another physician. Herein 
the director exceeded his official dut^^ I abandoned the case 
without further trouble, on account of my wife's sickness. 

About the same time I was called to treat a lady, about 
sixty-four years old, who resided at Minersville, and who 
was in very poor circumstances. I notified one of the trus- 
tees that I was attending a pauper, and the trustee reported 
the case to the directors. In due time Mr. Jones visited her, 
and discharged me against her wishes and the wishes of her 
friends. He proposed sending her a physician whom she 
did not know. She objected, and he abandoned her. 

In March, I reported a young lady who was in circumstan- 
ces requiring public relief, as well as the services of a physi- 
cian. Being the family physician, I was called to treat her, 
and I immediately notified the trustees of the fact, and the 
case was then turned over to the directors. On my third visit 
I found Mr. Jones present. He was bending his body over 
the patient, and at first, I thought he had turned out to be a 
physician. The young lady was improving, but my good 
friend, the director, immediately informed me that my servi- 
ces were no longer required. This action was not in accord- 
ance with the wishes of the patient or her friends. I was in poor 
circumstances financially, and was unable to litigate the case, 
and therefore I was compelled to obey his orders. Mr. Jones, 
however, agreed to pay me for this visit, and I received my 
fees in due time. 

Next day I visited the patient on my own accord, to observe 
how the change of physicians agreed with her, another hav- 
ing been emplo3'ed to treat the case. I found the young lad}'' 
suffering severely with pain in her stomach and bowels, caused 
by her medical attendant giving her a cathartic medicine 
which did not agree with her. I ordered the same medicine 



292 AUT0BI0C4RAPHY OF 



which I had previously given, and it relieved her, I did not 
visit her again, and she soon afterwards recovered. 

About the 6th of May, a well-known lady, of Syracuse, came 
to my office, and requested me to visit a friend of hers, who 
was affected with fever, and she also informed me that I would 
have to look to the township trustees for my compensation, 
as her friend was very poor with respect to this world's goods. 
I obeyed the call, notified the trustees, and the case was duly 
reported to the directors ; but, as I was afterwards informed, 
those officers paid no attention whatever to the case. I was 
also informed by one of our trustees, that other cases had 
been previously neglected by the infirmary directors. The 
name of the patient was Mary Harris, and her case was re- 
ported to W. H. Jones; but he neglected the matter entirely, 
and gave no instructions concerning the patient. On learning 
this, I wrote Mr. Jones a letter, in which I called his attention 
to the case of Miss Harris, and referred him to the statutes 
governing such cases. He sent me the following brusque 
reply : 

"Sir: — I have been searching the statutes for the last week, and 
failed to find your name mentioned in them. 

Signed, W. H. Jones." 

Mr. Jones' reply led to a controversy in the press of Meigs 
county. I immediately wrote an article in regard to these 
affairs, which was published in the Meigs County Telegraph. 
This article is now lost, and I give its substance from memory. 
I first gave a copy of Mr. Jones' letter to me, and then pro- 
ceeded to point out every section of the law for the relief of 
the poor, and referred Mr. Jones to these sections, as a guide 
to him in his official capacity. I also showed up his negli- 
gence in the case of Mary Harris, and gave him to understand 
that she was better, but that she needed more medicines, and 
that unless these were given her she was liable to relapse. In 
conclusion 1 stated : "That I was informed that Mr. Jones, 
while perambulating through the village of Minersville during 
the preceding spring, had oflEered to give a young lady two 
dollars." It was not intended in my article that the general 
reader should know what the two dollars was given for, 
and the statement was designed to draw him out in the press. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 293 



He replied in the Telegraph and also in the Meigs County 
Republican, as follows : 

"this is how it is." 

"Editor Telegraph: — In your last issue is an article from Dr. 
Barton, of Syracuse, in which he charges me with high crimes and 
misdemeanors. As an explanation I offer the following : The 
Doctor seems to have a very extended knowledge of law, and is 
very positive that there is a statute of 1876, and that this statute 
contains an act for the relief of the poor, and to repeal certain acts 
therein named, and that it is to be found on page 233; and that he 
will show me said acts if I will call on him. All this is very kind 
in the Doctor, to be sure, but why don't he hang out his shingle 
as an attorney, so that the public may know where to go for legal 
advice? He is very officious is assuming the duties of Township 
Trustee. He reports Mary Harris as having been aflfected with in- 
termittent fever for nine months, and that she may relapse. I 
W'Onder if the readers of the Telegraph thought of the Doctor's ob- 
ject? He thought if I ordered him to go on treating the ease, and 
she did not relapse for nine months to come, he \yould have a snug 
little sum due from the Poor Fund if he could make his visits as 
frequent as he has heretofore done at other places. The best crite- 
rion for the future, is the experience of the past. I presume the 
Doctor has not forgotten why he allowed his bill to be so indiscrimi- 
nately shaved the last time he met the Board, six months ago. I 
think the Doctor is a very industrious and persevering man in 
assuming the duties of those who are incompetent. I have never 
known a thorough-bred, who had taken a regular course of study, 
attended lectures and received his diploma, that would stooj} to small 
things. I asked a friend if he knew anything of Dr. Barton's course 
of graduation. He replied that he knew him to be "a hospital 
steward in the late war.'' As to the exterminating charge that I 
paid a young woman tw^o dollars in Minersville, out of the poor 
fund. It is basely false, propagated and circulated for malicious pur- 
poses. I herewith submit the following oifidavit : 

" I did not directly or indirectly, out of the poor fund nor out of 
my own, pay or cause to be paid to any young lady or other person, 
two dollars or any other sum of money, as charged by Dr. T. H. 
Barton, other than that prescribed by law in the discharge of my 
duties as an infirmarv director. 

" W. H. Jones." 

" Sworn to before me this 5th day of June, 1877. Witness my 
hand and notarial seal. 

John B. Downing, 
Notary Public." 



294 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



I replied as follows in the Telegraph : 

"about taking care of paupers, etc." 

''Ed. Telegrajih:— 

" In your issue of June 6th is an article from W. H. Jones, of Mid- 
dleport. I shall notice a part of his article, and confine my remarks 
to the poor of Sutton Township. He says : ' He thought if I ordered 
him to go on treating the case, and she did not relapse for nine 
months to come, he would have a snug little sum due from the poor 
fund.' The physician that treated Mary Harris has his snug little 
sum in his pocket, and it was paid by the trustees of this township. 
I hope when our trustees send the bill for the snug little sum to the 
Board of Infirmary Diiectors, it will not be refused, as has been done 
heretofore. I never asked Mr. Jones to order me to attend to her. 
What is the reason that he did not file affidavit that he gave Mary 
Harris the attention which the statutes direct? He was duly noti- 
fied by our trustees of her condition. 

" It is probably better to allow a reasonable bill to be ' indiscrimi- 
nately shaved ' twenty-five per cent., than to take the trouble to liti- 
gate and throw the board of directors in the costs, as I did several 
years ago. See the Court of Common Pleas record. He says the best 
criterion for the future is the experience of the past ; and I agree with 
him in this. But why did he, at the meeting of the Board of In- 
firmary Directors on the 6 h of March ' indiscriminately ' cut down 
our trustees' accounts from §60 to |1S? And why did he by his orders, 
allow one physician to sap the poor fund iu this county, in the year 
1876, to the amount of about $500 ? At this rate, if every physician 
in this county had an infirmary director to take him in tow, and 
have plenty of material to work upon, they would deplete the county 
so much in a few years that there would be no circulation left in it, 
and it would die of anemia. I think any thoroughbred, who has 
taken a regular course of study, attended lectures and received his 
diploma, is the proper person ' to stoop to such small things,' and 
complain of the county officers when they fail to do their duty ac- 
cording to law. He and his friend seem to be very much concerned 
about my course of study, graduation, etc. For the commencement 
of my medical study, they will have to hunt for it a long time before 
the war. He may tell his friend to turn to the LIV vol., page 282 of 
the American Journal of Medical Sciences, and, his eyes will be 
opened so that he can see in the dark. 

"When he wrote the two-dollar order for the young woman in 
Minersville, she says he came to her mother's house intoxicated ; she 
threatened to report him, and he gave her the order to keep still. 
All I want him to do is to follow section 25 of the law for the relief of 
the poor; and when the trustees of this township report paupers 



THOS. H. BARTOX. 295 



to him from that township, that they be given such relief as he may 
direct. Do not wait one week, as you have done, then visit them 
in distant parts of the county, with your coat on your shoulder, a 
phj^sician atyour riglit hand, and turn off the family physician of 
the poor, as has been done heretofore in this township. Some poor 
people living in Syracuse during the cold weather of last winter 
and the miners' strike in the spring, were reported to him by our 
trustees, but he paid no attention to them, refused to pay the 
trustees of this township for their bills, and refused to pay some 
phj'sician's bills. An old lady sixty-four years of age, living in 
Minersville, was reported to him by our trustees; he came to see 
her, found she was under medical treatment, and proposed to turn 
off her family physician and employ another. To this proposal 
she refused ; he then abandoned and left her to the mercy of the 
public. 

"I have no more malicious charges to make, but want to see the 
poor of this township receive due attention from him, and that this 
township does not pay a poor tax that belongs to the county. 

T. H. Barton." 

I also replied in the Meigs county Republican as follows : 

"REPLY TO INFIRMARY DIRECTOR \V. H. JONES." 

"Editor Republican : In your issue of June 6th is an article 
from W. H. Jones, of Middleport. Before I notice his letter, I will 
state the cause and beginnii'g of this controversy : Mr. Jones has be-n 
very neglectful of his duty toward the poor of Sutton Township. He 
will frequently wiit one week after our trustees turn the paupers over 
to him, as an Infirmary Director of this county. Sometimes he pays 
no attention to orders of our trustees; and, when he undertakes to 
do his duty, as an Infirmary Director, he starts ofl" to distant parts 
of the county with his coat hanging on his shoulder, a physician at 
his right hand, and turns off the family physician of the paupers ; 
and when they will not have his physician to attend to them, he 
then abandons them to the mercy of the public, as has been done in 
the village of Minersville. He has paid no attention to some poor 
people in Syracuse, who were in need of bread and fuel during the 
cold weather of last winter. They were duly reported to him by our 
Trustees. This is the way he does his duty, instead of following the 
25th section of the poor law passed in April, 1S76, which directs him, 
when he receives orders from the Trustees of any township in the 
county, to forthwith order the Trustees to take charge of them, and 
afford those who are in need of temporary or partial relief, such sup- 
port as he may direct, and said law has been entirely neglected by 
him in this township since its passage, with the exception of one case 



296 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



at Racine. Since my artic'e in the Telegraph, Mary Harris, of Syra- 
cuse, was turned over to him, on the 14th day of May, by our Trus- 
tees ; and on the 16th, I called his attention to the poor law, passed 
in April, 1876, and also advised him to order the trustees to take charge 
of her, according to law. But I did not ask him to employ me to treat 
the ease, for I was already employed by our trustees. On the 22d of 
May, I received a burlesque from him, which is in the Telegraph of 
May 30th, together with my letter of advice to him. Now, it is plain- 
ly to be seen that he was, for the time of one week, making a burles- 
que of me, and grossly neglecting his duty as a county officer ; hence 
the correspondence commenced in the Telegraph. 

"Mr. Jones seems to presume that I wanted him to order me to go 
on treating the case of Mary Harris, and that I would have a good 
thing of it, provided she did not recover. He said: 'No. Dr. I 
could not conscientiously do so, from the fact that, from past exper- 
ience, money has been saved by substitution, ' and he gives good at- 
tention when he has the poor fund to draw from. 

" I can see plainly from this, that he thought I would go on treat- 
ing the case till she was nearly cured, and then try to defraud me 
of my fees, as he did in the case of T. \V. Williams, Jr., of Miners- 
ville, when he waited six days after he received the order from our 
Trustees, then came in person, and found him getting better, and 
then employed another physician, against the will of the patient, 
and defrauded the first physician of his lawful fees, by dire neglect 
of duty as a county officer. The experience of the past, in the year 
1876, is a good criterion, when by his orders, one physician was al- 
lowed to deplete the poor fund in or nearly the amouni of five hun- 
dred dollars. Now, if everj' physician in the county had an Infirm- 
ary Director to take him in tow, and have plenty of material to work 
on, they would deplete the county so that in a few years there would 
be no circulating fluid left, and it would die with anemia.* 

"He says: 'One patient, a county pauper, (after I told him about 
the number of visits the doctor had charged,) told me that the doctor 
had not paid half that number.' Xow, this is maliciously false, cir- 
culated and published by him to injure me, for I never did make 
charges for visits that were not duly made, for any pauper in this 
county, or for any other person. And I defy the proof thereof. I 
would like to have the person pointed out to me. I recollect, 
six months ago, that said Infirmary Director made a clean sweep 
with our bills from this township ; two physicians and one drug- 
gist's bill, were indiscriminately shaved twenty-five percent. I don't 
know why he shaved my bill or the other two. Would like to know 
the reason why these bills were shaved, and why, at the meeting of 
the Directors on the 6th day of last March, our Trustees' bill was in" 

*Poverty and privation of blood. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 297 



discriminately shaved from $60 to |18. See Sutton Township record. 
A thoroughbred, well-educated physician, who has taken a reg\ilar 
course of study, attended lectures, taken his degree, and received his 
diploma, is the person to stoop to such business, as he calls it, and 
see that our county officers do their duty according to law. If hi^ 
friend wants to get his eye opened, let him turn to No. C /II, of the 
American Journal of the Medical Sciences, on page 282, July 1867, 
and do not trace my history back in the late war, and leave me 
there. 

"When he wrote the two dollar orJer for the young woman in 
Minersvillle, he was so confused in his mind that he did not recollect 
what he did that day. I presume he was intoxicated. She says he 
was drunk. T. H. Barton." 

There was a large demand for these newspapers, when ray 
reply was published. The Republican failed to supply the 
demand. I presume the public felt anxious to find out how I 
would answer Mr. Jones' article, which no one will deny was a 
masterpiece. Prior to this controversy in the press, the mode 
of paying the physicians and the druggists, who had claims 
against the township for treating paupers and furnishing them 
medicine was as follows : The trustees would pay these accounts 
until the paupers were turned over to the directors ; then the 
latter officers paid the balance, or a part of it, as th^y saw fit, but 
after the above communications were published the trustees 
paid the physicians and the druggists their accounts in full, 
and the infirmary directors refunded the money to the respec- 
tive townships through the trustees. The latter method is the 
legal wny of handling this important branch of the county 
and township business, and is in accord with the letter and 
spirit of the statutes. 

My business with the trustees continued about the same 
during the first half of 1877. During that year the township 
record shows that the trustees paid four physicians the sum of 
$197.05 for treating thirty-four paupers, it being an average of 
$5.78 for each pauper treated. Four other physicians received 
$104.25 for treating fifteen cases, an average of $6.95 for each 
case, while I reported nineteen paupers, and received the sum 
of $89.80, making an average expense for each pauper 
of $4.72. 

At the township election in April, 1878, the same trustee 



298 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



was elected at Racine, but a change was made at Syracuse and 
Minersville. A good business man was elected at Minersville, 
and a farmer presided over the poor at Syracuse. At first, I 
thought that an excellent change had been made, for the newly- 
elected oflficerswere men of intelligence. I now thought that 
I would have no trouble, but I was doomed to disappointment, 
for they paid no attention to the laws of the ^tate for the 
relief of the poor, and still looked to the Racine trustee as 
their leader in this branch of their business. 

I was treating two paupers in Minersville when these trus- 
tees were sworn into office, and I was allowed to continue 
treating them until one died and the other recovered. At a 
meeting cf the old trustees, about the first of April, my 
accounts were endorsed as correct, but the trustees would not 
permit the clerk to draw an order on the treasurer for my 
compensation at the same time telling me that I would have to 
present my claims to the infirmary directors. The other phy- 
sicians received their orders without any difficulty. About 
the first of the following June I presented my claims to our 
trustees, who endorsed them as correct, but refused to allow 
the clerk to give me an order on the treasurer, and again 
referred me to the directors. On the ensuing day the direc- 
tors belli a meeting at Pomeroy, and they were met by one 
trustee from every township in the county. The several trustees 
presented their township accounts to the board of directors, in 
order to have the money refunded, which had been paid out for 
the relief of the poor in their respective townships. I was 
there also with my claims endorsed as above stated. I in- 
formed our trustee that it was his duty to pay my claims, and 
have the money refunded by the directors. He disagreed with 
me, and referred nie to the directors ; the latter officers referred 
me back to the trustee. At length, after waiting a number of 
hours, he allowed my claim and paid the amount to me. 

About the 10th of September, I was called to visit a child, 
about four years old, that was afflicted with the diptheria, 
The patient was reported as a pauper to the nearest trustee. 
On the ensuing day, its grandmother informed me that the 
trustee had visited the child, and left the following notice 
for me : 



THOS. H. BARTON. 299 



"Dr. Barton : You must not look to me for any further pay 
for your services treating this child, for I have turned her over 
to the Infirmary Directors, and have nothing further to do with 
the case." 

The patient was in a dangerous condition, and I continued 
to treat the case. One day the child's grandmother informed 
me that one of the Infirmary Directors had visited the child, 
and wanted to take it to the poor-house. He said : "I am one 
of the infirmary directors, and have come to take her to the 
infirmary." The old lady informed him that he could not do 
so, as the patient was then very sick. The director replied : 
"Very well, I can not do anything for her." By dint of per- 
serverance, I received my fees for half the number of visits 
made in this case, and lost about half the amount charged for 
the medicines furnished. 

The next pauper that I was called upon to treat was the 
most wretched specimen of humanity that ever lived in Sutton 
Township. She was feeble in mind, as well as poor with re- 
spect to this world's goods. In regard to virtue, she had no 
character. The family consisted of a grandmother, who was 
about seventy years of age; the sick woman was about thirty- 
five, and she had a son, aged about thirteen, and a daughter 
aged about eleven The dwelling that they occupied was hard- 
ly fit for a stable. I was called on the 12th of December to 
treat the case, and I immediately reported her as a pauper to 
one of the township trustees. He paid no attention to my no- 
tice, and probably thought, by so doing, that the township 
would not be liable for my compensation. I continued to treat 
the case, and made my last visit on the 24th, when I regarded 
the patient as being out of danger. 

In February, 1879, I was called upon to treat an old gentle- 
man who lived by himself. This man was old, feeble, and in 
^ery poor circumstances, having no property or iunds where- 
with to pay a phsician. I therefore, immediately reported him 
as a pauper to the nearest trustee in the township. The trustee 
visited him, and instead of reporting him to the Superintend- 
ent of the Infirmary, as he should have done, left a written 
notice with Mr. I. H. Hall, at whose residence I kept my office, 
ordering me not to visit my patient any more, as he would not 



300 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



be responsible for ray fees in the case. Next day I rode past 
the Hall residence, and visited the patient, and on my return 
Mr. Hall gave me the notice which had been left with him by 
the trustee. My fees in this case were $2.40, including medi- 
cines. For the woman above mentioned, who was in such de- 
stitute circumstances, I charged the township $11.85 medicine 
included, making a total charge for these two cases of $14.25. 
At the annual meeting of the board of trustees in March, I pre- 
sented these bills for settlement. My account against the wo- 
man was correct, and the trustees offered me the munificent 
sum of one dollar for treating the old gentleman. I refused 
their kind offer. I again presented my account at a meeting of 
the board in April, and was again offered the pitiful sum of 
one dollar for my services in the latter case. I once more re- 
fused the offer. 

I had been having difficulty with the trustees for more than 
two years, and during the previous eighteen months, it had be- 
come a town talk that I was having trouble with the trustees 
in regard to my claims for treating the poor in this part of the 
township. I have no doubt the public thought that I was the 
only physician who was receiving pay for such services. An 
examination of the township record, however, showed that a 
number of physicians were being compensated by the township 
for professional services rendered to the poor, and from the 
amount of the claims allowed, there can be no doubt that these 
physicians received their fees in full. 

At the spring election of 1879, the same trustees were elected 
at Syracuse and Minersville, but a change was made at Racine. 
I had been observing the action of these officers for sometime, 
and was only wailing tor a good opportunity to plant an action 
against them. I came to the conclusion that the opportune mo- 
ment had now arrived. In the two last mentioned cases, I felt 
confident that I had a good cause of action, and I therefore filed 
a bill of particulars against them in the sura of $14.25 with 
Isaac Carleton, a Justice of the Peace in and for Sutton 
Township. I was represented by John Borham, Esq , and the 
defendants were counselled by L. H. Lee, Esq., of Pomeroy. At 
the trial Mr. Lee had the action dismissed on the ground that 
the gentleman who served the summons was not a constable, 



THOS. H. BARTON. 301 



he having been sworn into office without giving the official 
bond ref)uired by law. The magistrate, therefore, dismissed 
the action at my cost without prejudice to a new action. It 
was certainly remarkable for a constabl*^ to be sworn into office, 
without giving a bond with good and sufficient security to the 
township trustees. As soon as a constable was duly qualified, 
I procured a summons citing the trustees to appear before the 
same justice, and in due time the case came up for hearing 
before the magistrate. The evidence before the court showed, 
beyond a doubt, that the persons mentioned in my bill of par- 
ticulars were paupers ; that they stood in need of the services 
of a physician ; that the trustees were duly notified of this 
state of facts, and that they paid no attention to the notice. 
Upon hearing the evidence, the magistrate rendered a judg- 
ment against the defendants in the sum of $14.25, and for costs. 

The trustees, not being satisfied with the judgment of the 
magistrate, appealed the case to the Court of Common Pleas 
of Meigs County. The testimony was the same before the 
Court that it was before the Justice, with one exception. My 
evidence showed that on my second visit to the Minersville 
patient, I rode past my office at the Hall residence, and visit- 
ed the pauper, while at the same time a notice was at Mr. Wall's 
discharging me from any further treatment of the case. The 
Judge rendered a judgment in my favor for $13.50, thus cur- 
tailing the judgment of the Justice seventy-five cents. The 
trustees were still dissatisfied and carried the case to the Dis- 
trict Court on petition in error. The district Court confirmed 
the judgment of the lower Court, and there was no further leti- 
gation. 

This suit was stubbornly contested at every stage of the pro- 
ceedings. The attorneys on both sides understood that it was 
to be a test case. In the higher courts I was represented by J. 
Q. Speaker, of Poraeroy, and Squire Lee was ably assisted by 
S. D. Norton, a prominent attorney of the Pomeroy bar. Both 
sides used their utmost endeavor to gain the victory, and the 
attorneys looked up all the laws bearing on the case. As already 
stated, the suit was carried to the District Court on error, but 
I never understood the nature of this technicality. I must not 
omit to inform my readers that, in a direct way, I gained 



302 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



nothing by this litigation, for I paid my attorney the amount 
of the judgment for his fees. Indirect!}'-, however, I made a 
material gain in ray professional services among the poor. 
This suit cost Sutton townsliip $153,67 

My judgment was 13,50 

Cost of prosecution 65, 55 

Defendant's attorney fees 74,62 

Total $153,67 

About eleven months elapsed from the time this suit was 
commenced before the Justice, until it was finall}^ decided in the 
District Court. In the meantime I continued to have difficul- 
ty with the trustees in regard to the poor. I lost a large por- 
tion of my fees in such case for as soon as I reported a pau- 
per to them they would immediately discharge me from the 
case. However, notj^ithstanding their watchful vigilance, I 
obtained a small amount from the poor fund during this 
period. 

At the election in April, 1880, the trustee at Syracuse, 
and also the one at Minersville were superceded by others, 
who regarded me more favorably, and generally allowed me a 
reasonable fee for my professional services among the poor, 
and I continued to receive fair treatment at their hands up to 
1889. I think it was in 1885 that the infirmary directors as- 
sumed the illegal right of paying the physicians for treating 
the poor. I think this practice was continued for about two 
years. The physician who had the most friends managed to 
carry awa}^ the largest amount of the spoils. Sometimes I was 
regarded very unfavorably by the directors. The following 
case is reported, in order to show their action towards me : 

About the 16th, of September, , I was called to treat a 

man who resided in Minersville, and who had been stabbed 
with a knife in the region of the heart. The weapon had not 
injured the heart, but had penetrated the cavity of the pericar- 
dium. I reported the case to the trustees as a pauper, and they 
reported him to the superintendant of the county infirmary. 
I treated the patient till the 23d of October, when I considered 
him out of danger. On the 9th of November I was again call- 
ed to see him, and continued treating the case till the 28th, 
when he was discharged as cured. My books show that I 



THOS. H, BARTON. 303 



made thirteen visits, and wrote three office prescriptions, I 
charged the directors $].25 for each visit, and fifty cents for 
each office prescription, thus making a total of $17.50 for my 
services in the case. At a meeting of the board of directors in 
December, I was compelled to take ten dollars for my services 
or litigate the case, I am uncertain whether or not the other 
physicians infMeigs County had their pauper claims reduced in 
proportion to mine. 

From 1885 to 1888 I experienced no material difficulty with 
our trustees. If I remember correctly, I received my fees in 
every case that was reported. In the latter year, however, I 
was again treated very unkindly by these officers. I will re- 
port one case as an illustration : 

About the 5th of May I was called to treat a child about fif- 
teen months old, that lived with its mother in Minersville. It 
was a delicate child, and was affected with pneumonia. Its 
mother's husband had been convicted of some crime, and was 
serving a term of imprisonment in the Ohio penitentiary, and 
while in this penal institution, his wife became acquainted with 
a "young blood " who resided at the village of Letart, in Meigs 
County. They became very intimate with each other, and 
their intimacy finally resulted in the birth of this child. 
When called to treat the case, I learned that the young man 
visited her frequently, paid her rent and supplied her with 
provisions. The woman, however, appeared to be in rather 
destitute circumstances, and I therefore reported the child to 
the trustees as a pauper. The report was made verbally at a 
meeting of the board, and I proposed to take charge of the 
case on the following conditions : If the child's putative 
father, or its mother, did not pay me for my services within 
a reasonable time, that I would look to the trustees for my 
compensation. I also explained to them its mother's mode of 
living. The trustee who lived nearest the child's place of 
residence, said : "I will not pay it, for I do not know her." 
Another trustee chimed in and said : "We will not pay for a 
woman living in the manner that you say this one does." 
They all acquiesced in this decision. One of them said : 
''We are here to protect the township," and the others joined 
in chorus : "We are here to protect the township ; we are here 



304 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 

to protect the township." I continued to treat the case, and 
made my last visit on the 11th, making six visits in all, for 
which I charged the trustees $8.25. I charged $1.80 for the 
medicines furnished making a total of $10.05. At a fu ure 
meeting of the board of trustees I presented this bill to them 
for payment, hoping to receive my just dues. But the claim 
was refused, and the account is still standing on my books 
unpaid. 

The trustees claimed that it was their business "to protect 
the township." Let us see how the township was protected 
during this year. The record shows that during this year the 
trustees paid out of the township treasury for treating pau- 
pers and for furnishing them medicines the sum of $199.35, of 
which Dr. P. of Racine, received $57.00. The number of pau- 
pers are not given in this instance. Dr. D. a druggist of the 
same place, received $32.85, for medicines furnished ; Dr. S. 
of Syracuse, for treating three paupers, $16.00; Dr. N. of 
Pomeroy, for treating one pauper, $6.00 ; Dr. R. of Syra- 
cuse, one pauper, $12.00; Drs. N. and W. of Pomeroy, treat- 
ing one pauper, $27.00; Dr. A. of Pomeroy, treating one pau- 
per, $2.00 ; Dr. H. of Pomeroy, one pauper $6.00 ; Dr. R. drug- 
gist at Syracuse, medicines for six paupers, $19.55; Dr. L. a 
druggist, medicines for two paupers, $3.50; Dr. Q. of Hartford 
City, W. Va., for medicines, 75. I received $16.70 for treating 
and furnishing medicine for two paupers. 

Thus the township was "protected" to the amount of nearly 
two hundred dollars in 1888. The above statement contains 
a number of cases at Racine, Syracuse and Minersville. I 
know nothing concerning the merits of the cases treated by 
Dr. P. at Racine, nor of those for whom Dr. D. furnished 
medicines. Three patients resided at Minersville, for whom 
the physicians received compensation from the public treas- 
ury, although the heads of the respective families were able- 
bodied men. There can be no doubt that the cases in Syra- 
cuse were meritorious, and stood in need of public relief. Two 
hundred dollars is a large sum of money to be expended annu- 
ally for medical services among the poor ol Sutton Township. 
Perhaps a liberal construction of the laws would justify the 
expenditure. I find no fault with our trustees for being lib- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 305 



eral to the poor ; but permit me, kind reader, to ask this ques- 
tion : Why was this helpless infant in its mother's arms, and 
unconscious of its surroundings, deprived of the benefit of the 
poor laws? Why was the pitiful sum of ten dollars with- 
held in this case, while others received their just dues, and 
some of them no doubt received more than they were justly 
entitled to? 



CHAPTER XVII. 



CONCLUSION. 

I am now approaching the closing period of my checkered 
career. After my return from Indiana, I determined once 
more to establish myself in business. I have already in a pre- 
vious chapter, related my experience as a druggist. The reader 
knows the result; my business transactions had proved a fail- 
ure ; I had been compelled to sell my stock of drugs in order 
to liquidate a part of my indebtedness, and at a future period, 
I permitted my wife to sell our real estate, and close out her 
business at Syracuse; I had abandoned my location, and given 
up a lucrative practice. During these years I had passed 
through a trying ordeal; yet, nevertheless, I am once more 
about to take hold of the pestle and spatule, and endeavor to 
again build up my business and profession. The reader may 
be surprised that I should undertake to do all this, after my 
former experience ; but there is an old adage which still holds 
good : 

''If you convince a man against his will, 
He'll be of the same opinion still." 

Late in the fall of 1875, I rented a room of I. N. Hall, who 
resided at Carletonville just below Syracuse. This was de- 
signed for an office and drugstore. I then sent twenty dollars 
to J. S. Burdsal & Company, whom I have previously men- 
tioned in this narrative, and with this amount purchased thirty 
dollars worth of drugs and medicines, thus throwing myself 
in debt to this firm in the sum of ten dollars. I already had 
about ten dollars worth of medicines on hand, which was also 
put in the store, thus making my stock amount to about forty 

39 



306 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP* 



dollars. I turned this stock of drugs over to my two eldest 
children, who thus commenced business under the firm name 
of Geo. R. Barton & Co., they obligating themselves to pay me 
for the stock at a future time. Our plan of operations was 
that I should ride to the store every afternoon, attend to my 
professional business in that locality, and return home at 
night, while George was to go there in the morning, and remain 
until evening. 

It is said that a "drowning man will grasp at a straw," and 
to attempt to do business in this way was about like the efforts 
of the drowning man. However, we went to work with a will 
and endeavored to make the business successful. The whole 
proceeds of the store were applied to purchasing more drugs, 
and in this way we hoped in time to build up a lucrative trade. 
During the first nine months the stock of drugs improved to 
some extent, but at the end of this period my wife, as already 
stated, became affected with consumption. Her sickness, 
together with the stringency of the times, and the trouble aris- 
ing with the township trustees, as related in the former chap- 
ter, caused our business to remain in about the same condition 
till about six months after my wife's death. George then with- 
drew from the partnership, and I took his place, and we com- 
menced doing business under the firm name of Dr. T. H. Bar- 
ton & Company. I thus became the owner of one-half interest 
in the concern. From this time till about the first of May, 
1879, I regularly repaired to my store every afternoon, when I 
attended to business, and visited my patients, except during 
the heated season of the j'ear, when I wended my way to my 
place of business in the morning, returning home at or about 
noon, the distance being about a mile and a half. During this 
period our stock of drugs increased slowly and by the first of 
May the stock invoiced about one hundred and twenty dollars. 
It had been our intention to sell strictly for cash, but this was 
found impracticable, on account of a general depression of 
financial affairs, and upon looking over the books, it was found 
that the debts due the firm were about equal to the amount of 
the invoice. We were clear of indebtedness so far as the stock 
of drugs was concerned, and the books also showed that we 
had drawn out of the business the amount of forty-two dollars. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 30'/ 



In the meantime I continued to enjoy a fair amount of 

practice. During the years 1877 and 1878, my professional 

business continued about the same, but nothing worthy of 

notice occurred in this connection during this period. 
******* 

I am now approaching another important event of my life. 
I have once more come to the conclusion that it is not good 
for man to be alone, and I am once more, about to launch my 
barque upon the matrimonial sea. 

About the middle of the sultry month of August, while 
perambulating the streets of this quiet village, I met an old 
lady, who was a cousin of mine. I was now a regular attend- 
ant at church, and my cousin knew that while in attendance 
upon divine service I would sometimes cast my eyes to the 
right where the ladies sat. She informed me that a single 
lady, who had never been married, was visiting at her house, 
and was then in the neighborhood. My cousin spoke well of 
this lady, but told me that she did not know whether she 
would be willing to change her condition. I listened atten- 
tively to my cousin's remarks, and she informed me that her 
friend's name was Amanda Church, and that she lived with her 
brother, Horace Church, near the Rolling Mill in the city of 
Pomeroy. She was a daughter of Charles and Catharine Mc- 
Cormick Church, who were both at this time, deceased. 

Although a stranger to Amanda, I had an ardent desire to 
see her, and suiting the action to my thoughts, I was soon in 
her presence, and had a formal introduction to her. The 
lady who stood before me was of medium size, brown hair, 
and dark blue eyes. To me she appeared very handsome ; 
her movem,ents were sprightly and graceful, and her manners 
were pleasing and agreeable. Her visit was now at an end, 
and she was ready to return to her home, consequently I had 
a poor opportunity for conversation with her, and bade her 
farewell, and each of us returned home. I did not desire to 
intrude myself in her presence without an invitation, and I 
therefore had recourse to my cousin, and requested her to in- 
duce Amanda to make another visit to Syracuse. She readily 
gave her consent, and it was arranged for Amanda to make 
another visit in two weeks. 



308 AUTOBIt)GRAPHY OF 



We know the past and the present, but the future is un- 
known to us. About midnight on the day before Amanda was 
expected at Syracuse, I was aroused from my slumbers by a 
loud knocking at the door. I arose and opened it, and on the 
threshold stood my nephew, David Barton, and a young man 
named Davis, who informed me that my brother James, who 
had been unwell for some time, was now affected with con- 
vulsions, and they desired me to come to his residence at 
once. I was soon on my journey, reaching Addison at day- 
light on the following morning. I found James in a delirious 
condition ; his speech was imperfect, and he could only 
articulate monosyllables. I remained with him until the 
ensuing day, when he appeared much better. His disease 
proved to be Bright's disease of the kidneys, and was of such 
a nature that I had little hopes of his recovery. Sometime 
during the forenoon I started for Syracuse, and reached my 
destination early in the evening. 

I now learned that Amanda had made the anticipated visit, 
and having finished my evening repast, I immediately repaired 
to my cousin's residence, where, for the second time, I had the 
pleasure of meeting the lady who was to become my future 
wife. I was pleased to see her once more, and passed a few 
hours in pleasant conversation with her, and learned that she 
would be pleased to have me escort her to her home on the ensu- 
ing day. Next day found her by my side in a carriage, and w'e 
reached her residence in due time. Here I found a neat 
cottage, with everything plainly but tastefully arranged inside 
and out. Her brother owned the premises. 

I did not make an immediate proposition for her hand in 
marriage. Oh, no ! I did not believe in the doctrine of 
"marrying in haste and repenting at leisure." I meant no such 
foolishness as that. This was my third matrimonial venture, 
and I believed in the doctrine : "Be sure you are right and 
then go ahead." I now learned that she would be pleased to 
have me visit her at a stated time. At the appointed time, I 
was again at her brother's residence, and passed a few hours 
pleasantly in her company. My visits soon became more fre- 
quent, and I was not satisfied unless in her presence. It is use- 
less to deny the truth, I was in love with Amanda. For the 



THOS. H. BARTON. 309 



third time I felt the subtle influence of Cupid's darts. Some 
time in the succeeding November, we were engaged to be mar- 
ried, and it was finally arranged that the nuptials were to be 
solemnized on the twelfth of January, 1879. 

Was this an unwise step? I think not. It is true that I 
was well advanced in years. I had passed the fiftieth mile- 
stone. I had daughters who were grown to maturity. My 
children treated me kindly. I was attached to them and they 
honored me as a father ; but there was an empty void, which 
could only be filled by a wife. I was looking to the future and 
not at the present. 

The winter came on early, and was excessively cold and 
severe, and the ground was soon covered with snow and ice ; but 
the ice, the rain, the sleet and the snow, could not prevent me 
from visiting Amanda. If the roads were too icy for my horse to 
travel, I wended my way to her residence on foot. 

The holidays have arrived; the nuptials are to be solemn- 
ized on the twelfth of January ; I am anxiously waiting for the 
appointed time; important business has called me to the 
capital of Meigs County ; there is a very essential document 
which it is necessary for me to procure ; I have seen Rev. W. 
J. Griffith, of the M. E. Church, and he has agreed to meet me 
at the bride's residence at seven p. m. on the appointed day; 
the time at length arrives ; the ground is deeply covered with 
ice and snow ; I procure a sleigh and am soon on my way to 
the home of Amanda. I travel at a rapid pace, and arrive at 
my destination in due time; the minister puts in an appear- 
ance ; there is a quiet wedding, onlya few of the bride's inti- 
mate friends being invited- 

The marriage being solemnized, we repair to the sleigh, and 
with my dear wife by my side, I return home. A sumptuous 
feast awaits our arrival; but the wedding feast is no sooner 
disposed of, than we are disturbed by a number of boys and 
young men, who with horns and tin pans, furnish us with a 
little monotonous music. The little fellows wanted a treat) 
and when I thought they had sufficiently earned it, I proceeded 
to gratify their desires. They were satisfied, and left us in 
peace. 

We retired to rest for the night, but even the nuptial couch 



310 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



is not sacred from the calls of professional business. Every- 
thing was quiet, but ere the clock had announced the hour of 
midnight, I was roused from my slumbers by a loud rap at 
the door, and was informed that my services were immediately 
required at the bedside of the sick. I obeyed the summons, 
attended to the wants of my patient, but did not reach home 

till the clock had announced the approach of day. 

* * ***** 

I was well pleased with the change in my condition, and 
went about my professional labors with a will. Nothing 
worthy of notice in a professional way occurred during the 
remainder of this year. My practice continued fair, and there 
was some improvement in the collection of medical fees, and 
my financial condition improved to some extent. The year 
1880 was in a professional way, a repetition of the preceding 
one 

About the first of March, 1880, I learned through my agent, 
Mr. Daniel Miller, that a gentleman had offered him one 
thousand dollars for our property in Indiana, and that if 
accepted, the sale would be a cash transaction. I immedi- 
ately answered his communication and informed him that 
we would accept the offer. About the same time I also wrote 
to an attorney at Portland, the county seat of Ja}' County, 
inquiring concerning the law of "descent and distribution" in 
that State. He gave me to understand that I was entitled to 
a one-third interest in the property, and that the children were 
entitled to the remainder. He also informed me that the fees 
for his services in the case would be twenty dollars, and 
that the costs of the court would be the same, thus making the 
total expenses about forty dollars. I came to the conclusion 
that it was best to sell the property, and immediately com- 
menced making preparations for the sale. I deemed it best 
to sell as soon as possible, for instead of being a profit to me, 
this farm was an actual loss. The proceeds derived from it 
did not even pay the taxes. Was it not best to dispose of it to 
the best advantage? I decided to do so, and acted accordingly. 
I had a guardian appointed for the minor children. George 
and Sophia, being of .sufficient age, chose William McCaskey, 
of Syracuse, for their guardian, and he was also duly ap- 



THOS. H. BARTON. 311 



pointed guardian of Mott by the Probate Court. Mr. McCas- 
key commenced business immediately, and by the first week 
in April, made a deed for the children's interest in the prop- 
erty. He received $929.33, and this amount was distributed 
as follows : I received for my share, $320.00 ; Martha received 
$160.00; George, Sophia and Mott each received $149.77 thus 
making the cost of selling $70.69. This includes the cost of 
appointing the guardian. 

My financial circumstances were now in a worse condition 
than the}' were when I was mustered out of the nnlitary ser- 
vice of the United States. The amount of money which I re- 
ceived from my wife's estate was about equal to my moving 
and traveling expenses to and from Indiana, and my expen- 
ses in the way of rent since my return from that state. How- 
ever, I did not give way to these discouraging circumstances, 
but at once set about business, determined, if possible, to re- 
trieve my aff'airs. 

A neat dwelling-house stands on town lot number seventeen 
in Carleton's Addition to the village of Syracuse. The build- 
ing contains five rooms, and this real estate was the property 
of Susan Abies, widow of George Abies. Altogether there were 
two lots each fifty by one hundred feet in size, and I conclud- 
ed that this would make us a comfortable home. It was for 
sale, and I gave Mrs. Abies eight hundred dollars for the pro- 
perty. I had obtained a loan of Mr. McCaskey of $299.55, it 
being Sophia and Mott's interest in their mother's estate, and 
I also obtained a loan of Martha's interest. These sums, to- 
gether with my individual interest, amounted to nearly the 
price of the property. I therefore paid the cash and obtained 
a warrantee deed, my wife being joined with me in the convey- 
ance. Everything being in readiness, we moved into our new 
residence on the eighth, when I, for the first time for several 
years, experienced a feeling of relief. I was once more domicil- 
ed in a home of my own. 

On the ninth, a little girl came to live with us. As she came 
with the intention of making our home her permanent abode, 
we named her Lillie May. The other children that were born 
unto us are Charles Thomas, born December 30th, 1881, 
Arthur, born October 24th, 1883, and Edward Clayton, born 
August 15th, 1889. 



312 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



I now resume my narrative at the period of my visit to my 
brother at Addison. As before stated, I left James in a precar- 
ious condition, and with little hopes of his recovery. He, 
however, partially rallied from this condition, but was never 
again able to resume his practice. I saw him on several oc- 
casions during the summer and fall till the following Decem- 
ber, when he became confined to his room. His vital powers 
gradually failed, and he quietly passed away an the 4th of 
January 1880. His wife had died a few months previous. 
Honored in life he was equally honored in death. A large con- 
course of friends and relatives attended his funeral obsequies, 
and his many friends and patrons erected a suitable monument 
to mark the last resting place of himself and wife — the memor- 
ial costing three hundred and fifty dollars. 

****** -v.- 

I moved into my new residence, as already stated, on the 8th 
of April, 1880. During the previous eight years, I had met 
with a long series of disasters. Those who have followed my 
narrative are aware of this fact, and recapitulation is unneces- 
sary. Soon after moving into our new home, my horse — a valu- 
able animal — died, thus leaving me without one. At this period 
my ill luck changed, and I have met with no serious loss up to 
the present time. 

During the latter past of April, I fitted up the east room of 
our dwelling-house for a drug store, the room being eleven feet 
wide and sixteen feet in length. The material and labor cost 
me about eighty dollars, the work being performed in accord- 
ance with recent architecture. The room was fitted up and 
ready for the stock of drugs by the first week in May. From 
this time up to 1881, we purchased the most of our drugs and 
medicines of E. Davis & Company, of Middle])ort. The stock 
kept gradually increasing till the early part of 1881. About 
this time my wife bought out Martha's interest in the business, 
thus becoming a business partner as well as companion. I 
think it was in the spring of this year that we bought a lot of 
second-hand drugs of W. A. Carson. Latter in the year we, at 
different times, purchased drugs of Laughlin Brothers & Com- 
pany, of Wheeling, West Virginia, we ))urchiised our sui)plies 
though Mr. Shrewsbury, one of the traveling salesmen of this 



THOS. H. BARTON. 313 



firm. He visited Syracuse regularly, and on each occasion, 
we bought a fair supply, and besides drugs and medicines, we 
also purchased tobacco and confectionaries. During this year 
we bought $469.78 worth of drugs, medicines, tobaccos and 
fine groceries ; sold of those to the amount of $430.58, and col- 
lected $336.90. We therefore bought $39.20 more than we sold, 
and sold $93.68 more than we received pay for. In 1882 we 
purchased $43y.96 worth of stock, sold $661.46, and received 
pay on sales of$498.81. Consequently we sold $221.50 more 
than was purchased, and sold $162.65 more than we collected. 
In 1883, our purchases amounted to $568.22 ; sales $676.60 ; 
receipts $651,00, thus selling $108.38 more than we bought, and 
$25.60 more than was collected. During this year w« purchas- 
ed our goods of Mackeoun, Thompson & Company, of Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania, and of John L. Smith, of Wheeling, and 
also some ofLaughlin Brothers & Company. 

These figures show that during these three years outstand- 
ing claims had accumulated on our books to the amount of 
$281.93, This is a large amount compared with the business 
done, and made an average annual loss of nearly one hundred 
dollars, I have already had occasion to speak of the evil effects 
of the credit system. 

Up to the year 1883 we had taken but a small amount of 
funds from the proceeds of the store, consequently nearly all 
the proceeds were used in replenishing and increasing the 
stock of goods, but this year our books show that we drew out 
ihe sum of $146.80. During the fall and early part of the suc- 
ceeding winter, we laid in a large amount of drugs, and our 
small room was filled to overflowing; and by the time the 
holidays came round, we had about six hundred dollars worth 
of stock on hand, consisting of drugs, medicines, paints, dye 
stuff, confectionaries, notions and toys. Throughout the win- 
ter our sales were good, but on account of the extreme severity 
of the weather and the flood of February, 1884, we were unable 
to meet our financial obligations, but we were put to no cost 
or expense except the interest on our indebtedness. But this 
failure to meet our obligations had an injurious effect on our 
business standing and credit. From that time up to the pre- 
sent writing, the commercial fraternity have generally given us 

40 



314 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



the cold shoulder, and shown us but little favor. Butnotwith- 
standing their disfavor, we have managed to keep up our stock 
and have also paid a considerable amount of indebtedness, as 
the following figures will show. During the years 1884-'85- 
'86-'87 and '88 our books show that we purchased goods to the 
amount of $1,923.60; sold, $3,181.49; received payment on 
sales, $2,830.76, and paid out $2,024.54, the expenses and in- 
terest being $75.92. Our books also show that we drew out of 
the store for private use the sum of $596.19. This shows that 
we sold $350.73 more than we collected, and that we collected 
$907.16 more than we purchased. Of the amount paid out 
$100.94 cents was paid on indebetedness. 

During the latter months of 1888 we purchased a fair amount 
of drugs, notions, groceries, confectionaries, and other articles. 
Our little store room was again crowded to overflowing, and 
we did a fair amount of business during the holidays. Our 
stock now amounted to over five hundred dollars. 

The year 1889 opened up with a fair amount of business. 
Our sales were good, but having some debts standing against 
us, we dicided to apply the proceeds of the sales to the pay- 
ment of our indebtedness, even if, by so doing, it run the stock 
of goods down. From the beginning of this year up to the 
Last of September, the season was healthy, and we did not fill 
as many prescriptions as usual, but our sales of groceries and 
notions were fair. During this period we purchased $190.94 
worth of goods ; sold $409.40 ; collected $358.74, and paid out 
$266.44, the expenses being $9.51. We therefore sold $50.66 
more than we collected, and collected $167.80 more than we 
purchased. We applied $75.50 on our indebtedness, and drew 
out $80.00 for private use. The stock on hand at the close of 
this period would amount to about four hundred and fifty dol- 
lars. We have used our utmost endeavors to clear off our in- 
debtedness for drugs and merchandise. Perhaps there is no 
drug store in the State of Ohio, according to its size, whicii 
has kept a greater variety of articles for sale, or as large amount 
of stock at a cash valuation, as we have had during the last 
six years. 

My son, Lewis Mott, assisted me at times in the store and 
put up the prescriptions and was of great service to me in that 



THOS. H. BARTON. 315 



capacity. He was registered in 1884, as an assistant pharma- 
cist. Soon afterwards, he engaged himself to Henry Barton, 
and learned the trade of boiler-maker. He is now following 
that occupation. 

There are three drug stores in Syracuse at the present writ- 
ing, and they all appear to be doing a fair, if not a lucrative 
business. W. T. A. Lallance is located on Third street, and 
A. N. Roush, who formerly clerked for Mr. Lallance, is carry- 
ing on the drug trade in the building which Hudson and 
Roush purchased of my wife. They are both first-class drug- 
gists, and enjoy a fair share of the public patronage. But not- 
withstanding this strong opposition, I feel hopeful, by careful 
management and close attention to my profession thatby the 
time my younger sons come to years of maturity and are able 
to transact business for themselves, to have a first-class drug 

store. 

******* 

There is one peculiar characteristic of the people of Syra- 
cuse, which demands some attention at my hands. There are 
some persons in this goodly village who are in the habit of 
meddling with the physicians in their professional business. 
Up to 1881 I would occasionally have a protracted case pass 
out of my hands, and the patient be placed under the care of 
some other physician. Some of these cases would recover, while 
others would terminate fatally. Other changes would sometimes 
be made, which would generally protract the case much longer 
than was necessar}' to effect a cure. I will report the follpw- 
ingcase in order to illustrate how the code of medical ethics 
was conducted in Syracuse at that time. 

A gentleman, who was in good financial circumstances, fell 
ill during the first week in Januar}^ 1881. I had been his 
family physician since the war, and on the 11th I was called 
upon to treat him. On the second or third visit I informed 
his wife that his case was more (fengerous than any which 
had preceded it in the family, and that it would require great 
care and attention to get him through to thorough conva- 
lesence and effect a cure. I continued to treat him for about 
twelve days without making much impression on his disease. 
At this time some of his neighbors became greatly concerned 



316 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



in regard to his condition, and urged his wife to employ some 
other physician. On the thirteenth day of my treatment, at 
the urgent request of some of his neighbors, his wife was in- 
duced to call Dr. J. Barr Smith to see her husband. Dr. Smith 
visited the patient, but on learning that he was a patient of 
mine, refused to take the case. Next day he was again 
called to see him, and his wife sent for me, and Dr. Smith and 
I held a consultation, and agreed in regard to the mode of 
treatment. I then repaired to my office, prepared some 
medicine, and delivered it in person to the patient. During 
this visit his wife said to me : "Doctor, they have sent for 

Dr. ." I replied ! "I am willing to consult with Dr. ." 

I gave her some instructions in regard to the medicine, bade 
her good bye, and returned home. About two hours after- 
wards, I observed Dr. wending his way to visit my patient, 

and in about an hour afterwards a messenger came to my 
office in great haste, informed me that my services were no 
longer required, and gave me to understand that the family 

had employed Dr. to treat the case. I was informed that 

this doctor told my patient : "I think you will recover, pro- 
vided I have full charge of 3 our case." The doctor then took 
"full charge of the case," and commenced treating him, but 
soon learned that it was a hard case to treat, it being impossi- 
ble to relieve the patient of his excruciating pain. The result 
was that this man obtained but little relief, and continued to 
suffer day and night. He gradually failed, and, about six 
weeks afterwards death relieved him of his sufferings. He 
died suddenly and unexpectedly. His friends did not know, 
and perhaps they were not informed of his dangerous con- 
dition. 

I have already had occasion, in a previous chapter, to speak 
of the code of medical ethics. The reader may be surprised to 
Jearn that the trio of i)hysicians who figured in the above 
mentioned case, were all members of the Meigs County INIedi- 
cal Society, but such is the fact. This case shows that the former 
physician acted in strict accordance with the code of medical 
ethics, while the latter did not. 

Nothing of interest occurred in a professional way till late 
in the summer and fall of 1882, when an epidemic of malarial 



TBOS. H. BARTON. 3l7 



typhoid and typho-malarial fevers broke out in this locality 
to an alarming extent. These diseases appeared to be caused 
by the humidity of the atmosphere. Nearly everj' morning 
the air would be loaded with vapor or fog, which would re- 
main till about ten o'clock in the forenoon. It fell to my lot 
to treat a large number of these cases, and from the first of 
August till the first of November. T was kept very busy, and 
had all the practice that I was able to attend to I was generally 
successful, losing only two cases during this epidemic. 

One of the fatal cases was a young man about sixteen years 
old, who was stricken with an attack of malignant typho-mala- 
rial fever, which ran its course in about eight days. I had 
eminent counsel called, but in spite of our united efforts, the 
disease terminated fatally. The other case was affected with 
typho-raalarial fever, which was protracted to the fourth week 
of the disease, when the patient died. She was a little girl 
about twelve years old, and only a few days previous to this 
child's sickness, the family had lost a son, he being a young 
man about twenty years old. He was no doubt affected with 
a malignant attack of typho-malarial fever, and was treated 
by another physician. During the little girl's illness the family 
had become over-worked with their nightly vigils around the 
sick beds of their children, and I do not think my patient re- 
ceived as good nursing and attention as such a case required. 
On two occasions I thought she would recover, but she would 
again relapse into her former condition. 

During the early part of November, I was much broken 
down in health ; but after resting a few weeks from my exten- 
sive and laborious business, I found ra3'^self much better and 
also much stronger. 

Early in the spring of this year, Dr. J. W. Hoff moved from 
Pomeroy, and took up his residence in the west end of Syra- 
cuse, He made this move in order to be convenient to his 
practice in this place and Minersville, where he formerly had 
an extensive practice. He would also be in close proximity to 
the city of Pomeroy. When Dr. Hoff moved to Syracuse, I 
had some fear lest he would obtain nearly all the practice, and 
leave me with nothing to do but sit in my office and look on ; 
but he failed to make any apparent change in my professional 



318 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



business, for my patrons clung to me, while at the same time 
his customers employed him as usual. He moved back to 
Pomeroy in the fall of 1885. 

Early in this year, Dr. L. C. Rathburn, a son of Dr. D. C. 
Rathburn, of Middleport, located at Syracuse. He was a gen- 
tleman of considerable ability, and soon obtained a fair amount 
of practice, it being favorable for the profession during the 
sickly season. Dr. Rathburn's health commenced failing early 
in 1883, and he continued to grow worse rapidly, and died in 
the spring of that year. 

Early in 1882, Dr. Ross located at Minersville, and com- 
menced practicing medicine there. I was his principal op- 
ponent, and at that time, I had more than half the practice in 
the place. At first Dr. Ross made a great spread in regard to 
his knowledge and ability, and was boasted of by his friends. 
This year was an unhealthy one at Minersville ; sickness pre- 
vailed to a considerable extent in this smoky village, and Dr. 
Ross at once obtained a fair amount of practice. The prevail- 
ing diseases were malarial and typho-malarial fevers. 1 think 
the young doctor obtained more practice from my worthless 
patrons than he did from those who were in good financial 
circumstances. Some of these, however, employed him, and 
gave him a good reputation as a physician and surgeon. He 
moved away in the fall of 1888. 

The first part of 1883 was unhealthy, pneumonia and catarrhal 
fever being the prevailing diseases. Consequently there was 
considerable practice, but towards the close of the year the 
health of the people improved, and my practice fell off accord- 
ingly. 

At this time, I had no cellar under my dwelling-house. At 
some previous time, a hole had been dug under the kitchen, 
and it had been used for the purposes of a cellar. Early in the 
fall I employed two stone masons and a few day laborers, set 
them to work, and soon had a good substantial cellar under 
my kitchen. It cost me about seventy-five dollars, which was 
nearly double the amount that I supposed it would cost. 
About fifteen dollars was turned in on the labor in the way of 
professional fees, and 1 found myself in debt for the work 
about forty-five dollars. 



THOS. H. BARTON. Sl9 



The winter of 1883-4 was a remarkably severe one. Perhaps 
more snow fell during this period than ever before in the same 
length of time since the settlement of the country. It laid on 
the ground till the last of January, when the weather moder- 
ated, and was followed by heavy rains ; there was enormous 
quantities of snow in the Alleghany mountains, and this was 
melted and carried away by the descending deluge. Every 
tributary stream assisted to swell the water in the Ohio river. 
Higher and higher came the flood, until the volume of water 
in the Ohio was about five feet higher than the'great flood of 
1832. 

The river reached its highest point on the seventh of Febru- 
ary. The water from the river broke into the coal mines at 
Syracuse and Minersville, causing an immense amount of 
damage, and entirely suspending operations in this industry. 
The works were suspended during the entire spring, summer, 
and a large part of autumn of this year, and were only put in 
running order after an immense outlay of time and money. 

This flood caused the greatest stringency in financial affairs 
ever known since the coal mines were first put in operation. 
Large numbers of families were driven from their homes by 
the angry waters entering their dwelling-houses, thus causing 
immense suffering among the people, and they were driven to 
seek shelter among their more fortunate neighbors. The Odd 
Fellows — that noble beneficiary institution — threw open their 
hall for the benefit of those who were driven from their homes. 
Sickness prevailed to a considerable extent ; but by careful 
management all the cases in Syracuse recovered. I lost one 
case at Minersville. 

Commissary supplies were sent here in abundance, and dis- 
tributed among those who were damaged by the flood, and to 
those [who were in needy circumstances. Congress made a 
large appropriation for the flooded localities on the Ohio river, 
of which Syracuse received its full share. Relief committees 
were appointed for the distribution of the funds. 

About six weeks after the flood, a prominent member of the 
relief committee, who resided at Syracuse, inquired of me if I 
had any professional fees due me from flood sufferers who 
were in indigent circumstances and unable to pay their debts. 



320 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



Upon being answered in the affirmative, he then told me to 
make out my accounts, and place them in his hands for collec- 
tion, and that the Chief of the Relief Committee at Columbus, 
Ohio, would pa}^ them. I looked over my books, found about 
fifteen dollars of such claims, made out my accounts and gave 
them to him, he, at the same time assuring me that the com- 
mittee would pay my claims. He afterwards informed me 
that he had forwarded them to the Chief of the Relief Com- 
mittee at Columbus. In due time I made inquiry of him con- 
cerning my claims. He replied : "Your claims are allowed, 
and I am daily expecting the money to be at Pomeroy." Sub- 
sequently, at different times, I inquired of him concerning 
these claims, and received about the same answer. Failing to 
receive a satisfactory answer from the committeeman, I ad- 
dressed a letter to the chief of the committee at Columbus, but 
he failed to reply. I learned nothing further in relation to the 
matter, and will not give my own opinion concerning it. I 
prefer that the reader should judge for himself. 

Late in the fall of this year, I received a disabilit}^ pension 
from tfie United States Government, the arrears amounting to 
about $440.00. This pension was for disease of chronic diar- 
rhoea, which was contracted, as I have stated in a former chap- 
ter, near Vicksburg, Mississippi. By the advice of my wife, to 
whom I had explained all the particulars of the disease that I 
had contracted, early in the year 1880, I made application for 
a pension to the Commissioner through my Attorney William 
L. McMaster, of Middleport. I knew but little in regard to the 
pension laws of the United States, and made slow progress 
with my claim ; but about one year after making application, 
I employed Tucker and Bishop, of Washington, D. C, to pro- 
secute my claim, and by our united efforts succeeded in obtain- 
ing a small pension. Since my claim was allowed, I have at 
three different times, had it increased. I am now drawing ten 
dollars a month for the above mentioned disease of chronic 
diarrhoea and resulting hemorrhoids. I applied nearly all the 
proceeds of my pension money to payments on our real 
estate. If any person, during 1872 and the early part of 1873, 
had foretold that I would, at a future time, make application 
for a disability pension, I would have regarded it as vain and 



THOS. H. BARTON. 321 



idle talk ; not because I was not entitled to one, but for the 
simple reason that at that time I did not think financially my 
condition would ever be such that I would stand in need of the 
bounty of the government. 

The great flood of 1884 did not cause as much sickness as 
might have been expected under the circumstances. A num- 
ber of persons were affected with colds, caused by moving into 
their dwelling houses while the floors and walls were wet and 
damp. The year 1885 was a healthy one, and there is nothing 
of importance to report in a professional way during that year ; 
but the financial state of the public was in a deplorable 
condition. This state of affairs was mainly brought about by 
the laboring classes, as well as those engaged in business, not 
having as yet recovered from the effects of theflcrod. My own 
finances were in a poor condition, it being all that I could do 
to meet my expenses, and this was only accomplished by using 
a portion of the funds received from the sale of drugs. My 
professional income did not meet the demand. 

Early in January, 1886, an epidemic of influenza broke out 
in this locality, and a large number of persons became affect- 
ed with this disease. It generally affected the young and the 
aged, leaving the middle-aged comparatively free from its 
ravages. It was accompanied with pneumonia, pleurisy, 
pluro-pneumonia, bronchitis, and catarrah fever. This disease 
was very fatal among the aged, and especially among those 
who were over sixty-five years of age. It continued in this 
locality till the first part of April when the epidemic gradually 
ceased. It fell to my lot to treat a large number of these cases ; 
but unfortunately I met with poor success among those 
patients who were approaching the age of three score years 
and ten. One lady, who was about seventy years old, em- 
ployed me to treat her for the above mentioned disease. She 
had been for a number of years, affected with chronic bron- 
chitis, consequently her health was very poor at the time. If 
my memory serves me correctl}^, I visited her two or three 
times, when on the third visit, she complained that the medi- 
cine, instead of loosening her cough, had a tendency to make 
it more difficult for her to raise the s2)iUa. The reason is 
obvious. The medicine did not loosen her cough because her 

41 



322 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



vital powers were so much exhausted that it had no effect on 
her complaint. At ray last visit, she begged me to leave her 
without treatment until she felt stronger, and then she would 
take the medicine. At her earnest request I discontinued the 
treatment. She died in about two days after she quit taking 
medicine. 

About the same time I lost a patient, who was a maiden 
lady about forty years old. She was affected with pluro- 
pneumonia which had set in with the influenza. Her case 
proved fatal in less than a week, in spite of my best endeavors 
to save her. About the same time, a married lady, who was 
about the same age, was taken with the influenza, when pneu- 
monia set in. Her case was very dangerous, but by careful 
treatment, she recovered in due time. 

The next patient that I lost was a gentleman about sixty-six 
years old. He became afiected with influenza, and soon after- 
wards contracted pneumonia. When I first saw him the dis- 
ease was in the second stage ; it passed rapidly to the third, 
and terminated fatally. Medicine had no effect on his disease. 
The next and last fatal case that fell under my treatment was 
an old gentleman, who had passed his eightieth milestone. 
He was suddenly taken with an attack of the influenza. His 
symptoms were of a catarrhal nature, and they aflfected his 
stomach and lungs. His treatment was tonics and stimulants, 
but in spite of these he failed rapidly^ and died in about a 
week. 

There were a large number of children, from one year old 
up to the age of puberty, that were affected with this disease, 
and about half of them were in a dangerous condition. They 
however, all recovered. 

I was kept very busy from the tenth of January to the last 
week in February, having all the practice that I could attend 
to. I was frequently called up at night to visit my patients; 
and by the last week in February, I felt myself about 
used up. One morning, after lying in bed half an hour 
longer than usual, I rose with the intention of .resuming my 
daily avocation ; but on rising from my couch, I felt dizzy. I 
was affected with the influenza, and it had produced vertigo. 
I managed however, to get out of the house, but my gait was 



THOS. H. BARTON. 323 



staggering. I finally succeeded in getting into the honse, 
where I remained nearly all the time during the next month, 
thus losing a large amount of professional business. How- 
ever, I was able to do, and did do, some office practice ; and by 
the time I was able to attend to my regular practice, this 
epidemic had about rua its course. During this period, I had 
neglected my health, and had allowed my bowels to become 
obstinately constipated, which was no doubt a sequence of the 
chronic diarrhoea. 

My professional business continued fair during the remain- 
der of this year, and it was also a good year for the collec- 
tion of medical fees ; but notwithstanding this, I lost a large 
amount of my earnings. I could not well afford to do so. My 
health was gradually failing, I was drawing a disability pen- 
sion, and the rate showed that I was totally disabled for the 
performance of hard labor, and at least one-third disabled for 
the performance of continuous light labor. Old age was 
gradually creeping on ; I was approaching my sixtieth mile- 
stone, and felt that I needed rest. I now resolved to turn 
over a new leaf. From the beginning of IBS'/ up to the pres- 
ent wriiing, I have been using my utmost endeavors to im- 
prove the quality of my practice. I attempted to accomplish 
my object by refusing to visit my non-paying customers and 
those who were in arrears to me for professional services. I 
would especially refuse to visit such persons at night. A few 
individuals have taken advantage of me in this respect, and 
obtained my services under false pretenses, pretending to 
have the money wherewith to pay for my services, when at the 
same time, they were out of funds and entirely worthless. 
At first, my plan had an injurious effect on my practice, for 
the news soon spread abroad that I would not visit the sick 
at night, and this report caused me to lose as much lucrative 
practice as I had formerly lost among my non-paying cus- 
tomers. 

From 1887 to the present writing, the health of the people 
residing in this locality has generally been good, and this to- 
gether with my determination to do a paying business, has re- 
duced my practice very much. I have had an easier time, and 
enjoyed comparative rest. Moreover, I have, by strenuous 



324 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



efforts, improved the quality of my practice, and during the 
last year or two, I have not lost nearly so large a per cent, of 
my earnings as I formerly did. 

I have endeavored to treat my fellow laborers in the medical 
profession with respect. In writing this plain narrative of facts 
it has not been my object to speak ill of anyone. In regard to 
my competitors I have endeavored to give honor to whom 
honor is due, nor have I feared to withhold just criticism when 
the same was deserved. 

Some time during the fall of 1888, Dr. Milford Roush located 
at Syracuse with the object of practicing medicine and sur- 
gery. Before moving here he inquired of me as to whether or 
not Syracuse would be a favorable location. I informed him 
in substance that I thought he could obtain a fair amount of 
practice in this locality ; that Dr. Smith was is feeble health, 
and unable to do but little professional business ; that he 
would naturally obtain some practice among Dr. Smith's 
friends, and no doubt obtain a part of Dr. HofF's practice and 
also of mine. I cautioned Dr. Roush. however, in regard to the 
situation, and gave him to understand that in all probability he 
would not find the practice lucrative when it came to be divided 
among three or four physicians. Dr. Roush was a young man 
of considerable ability, and had he been spared, there can be 
no doubt that he would have made an able physician, and 
been an ornament to the profession. He left Syracuse early 
in the spring of 1889, migrated west, and some time during 
the summer of that year, died of the typhoid fever. 

Dr. I. N. Holmes, who located at Syracuse in 1884, moved 
away soon after Dr. Roush came. Dr. Holmes' practice, how- 
ever, was very limited, and made no perceptible difference in 
my professional business. The removal of these two physi- 
cians left the field clear, so far as this immediate locality is 
concerned, to Dr. Smith and myself. We now have no opposi- 
tion, except from those physicians who reside elsewhere. I 
still adhere to my resolution of doing a paying business, not 
that I am unwilling to visit those who are in indigent circum- 
stances, not alone for the patronage of the wealthy and influ- 
ential ; these are not the reasons ; I am forced to this policy 
by advancing years and declining health. The time has come. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 225 



in the closing monthvS of 1889, when I bring my personal his- 
tory to an end, that I should enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of 

hard labor. 

******* 

And now my written story ends, I have completed my task. 
I have endeavored tp convey, in plain and concise language 
the struggles of a lifetime. These have covered more than 
half a century; and now, in the evening of life, I look about 
rae once more — for the last time — before I close these pages. 
And while I have accomplished much, I have not done all that 
I could have desired. I am surrounded with the comforts, and 
some of the luxuries of life. I am happy in my home with my 
wife and family. Her companionship, and the innocent prattle 
of childish voices, cheer me along the journey of life. And 
there is inspiration in the words of the poet : 

"Lives of great men all remind us. 
We can make our lives sublime. 
And, departing, leave behind us. 
Footprints on the sands of time." 



SUPPLEMENT. 

THE PHYSICAN AND PATIENT. 



A sick person should invariably employ a physician who 
is well educated in his profession, who is intelligent, skillful, 
careful and attentive to those who trust their lives to his care. 
The physician should also be a careful and attentive student 
of medicine, and keep himself well posted in regard to all the 
changes in medical science. Moreover, he should be temper- 
ate, industrious, and virtuous. A number of years ago I read 
a short article in the Medical and Surgical Reporter, wherein 
it was related of a gentleman who was traveling, that he 
stopped at a certain town and took lodging at a hotel. He 
was detained at this place several days on account of ill 
health. Being in this condition he stood in naed of the ser- 
vices of a physician, and being a stranger in the place, and 
unacquainted with any of the local physicians, he immedi- 



326 AUTOBIOGRAPAY OF 



ately called at the post office in order to ascertain the name 
of the physician who took the largest number of medicaljour- 
nals, and having ascertained this fact, he employed the one" 
who took the largest number of these useful periodicals, 

A sick person should employ a local physician in prefer- 
ence to an itinerant one, for the reason that the traveling doc- 
tors who go from town to town, stopping from^ one to three 
days at a place, then go to some other locality, returning in 
about a month, can not give that attention to their patients 
that the necessities of the case in' many instances require. 
These itinerant physicians generally .pretend to do their work 
for a certain sum of money ; that is, to effect a cure for a cer- 
tain fee : but the}^ almost invariably demand their fee, or a 
large portion of it in advance ; so that in any event, they have 
their pay, whether or not they effect a cure. They usually 
size up the patient according to his pocket book, charging the 
wealthy and opulent exorbitant prices, being more liberal with 
the j)Oor and indigent. 

I may divide these traveling doctors into two classes. 
First, the one-horse physician, who is entirely ignorant of the 
science of medicine ; and secondly, the more polished and 
pristocratic fellow, who travels as a specialist. I will give a 
few illustrations of the former class. 

A few years after the close of the late war, a lady who re- 
sided in Minersville, became affected with emphysema of the 
lungs. This lady puffed and blowed, and grunted like a 
wind-broken horse. One day a traveling quack, who called 
himself an Indian doctor, called at her residence, and pro- 
posed to cure her of her lung disease. She finally consented 
to let him try, under the promise of a sure cure. He gave her 
some medicine, she agreeing to pay him on his next visit. 
At the appointed time he was again at her residence, but 
found her no better. He also found her out of funds, and he 
therefore failed to replenish his pocket-book. Moreover, she 
refused to take any more of his remedies, but he continued 
to visit her in order to obtain his fees. On one occasion, 
when she was expecting him to call upon her for his medical 
fees, a few of her neighboring ladies were calling at her place 
of abode. She told her visitors that she did not know wh^^t 



THOS. H. BARTON. 327 



to do, as she was that day looking for the old Indian doctor 
to call upon her for pay for his services, and being out of 
funds, she was greatly perplexed and alarmed. At this mo- 
ment, one of her friends went to the door, and lo ! the poor 
Indian ! He was wending his way to her house. Here was a 
dilemma. The good old lady was greatly perplexed at the 
announcement of this unwelcome tidings, and did not know 
how to avoid the Indian doctor. However, one of her lady 
friends came to her rescue, and told her what to do. She 
was advised to hide herself under the bed, and the doctor was 
to be informed that she was absent from home, but she was 
also carefully instructed to make no noise, and neither puff 
nor grunt while under the bed, for fear of being discovered. 
She obeyed this advice, and was soon safely ensconced in her 
hiding place. She was no sooner hidden than all the ladies 
chimed in. "Don't grunt, or he will hear you ; don't grunt, 
or he will hear you !" There was a good deal of amusement 
among the circle of ladies, and when the Quixotic doctor ap- 
peared at the door, one of them opened it, and he was quietly 
informed that the patient was away from home, and this old 
quack was compelled to go away without receiving any com- 
pensation for his services. 

About twenty years ago I was called to see an old gentleman 
who resided in Syracuse. I immediately obeyed the call, and 
upon examination, found him affected with acute bronchitis, 
which had set in on the chronic bronchitis. He informed me 
that he had been treated by an itinerant physician who styled 
himself an Indian doctor, and who had pronounced his com- 
plaint liver disease. This doctor had failed to make his last 
round, and, in consequence, the patient had sent for me. When 
I commenced treating him, he was very weak and feeble, had 
a poor appetite, and was troubled with a severe cough. After 
treating him two or three weeks, he felt much better and stron- 
ger, was troubled but little with cough, and had a good appe- 
tite. At my last visit I was greatly surprised, for there was 
present no less a personage than his former medical attendant. 
Supper was ready, and the old gentleman kindly invited me 
to a seat at the table, but I respectfull}'' declined his invitation. 
The patient sat down to tl^e t^ble and a tea hearty meal, and 



228 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



appeared much relieved after replenishing his gastric cavity. 
It is my candid opinion that this old man would soon have 
recovered his former health, even without medicine. After 
supper he discharged me, and again employed this old travel- 
ing quack for the purpose of having him treat him for an im- 
aginary disease of the liver. About six weeks afterwards, a 
messenger came to me in great haste, requesting me to visit 
this old gentleman, the messenger telling me that the old man 
was very low, I refused to make the call and did not go to 
see him, and Dr. HofF was employed to treat the case. 
But it was now too late for a physician to be of any service to 
him. The old man soon passed away to that bourne from 
whence no traveler ever returns. 

About the year 1872, one of these traveling quacks, who 
styled himself a "root and yarb" doctor, was in the habit of 
making his monthly visits to Meigs County. He frequently 
stopped at my drug store in order to purchase medical supplies. 
On one occasion, I asked him the following simple question, 
for the purpose of testing his knowledge of medical science : 
"Doctor, do you use capsicum in your practice?" He replied. 
"I don't know as I do by that name." I then asked him. "Do 
you use cayenne pepper in your practice?" "Oh yes," he re- 
plied. I use a great deal of cayenne pepper in my practice, I 
can cure diptheria with cayenne pepper and salt." Now, kind 
reader, here was a man, calling himself a physician, who did 
not know the botanical name of cayenne pepper I And in all 
probability, he did not know the sceintific name of a single 
remedy which he used, or its medical properties and uses. 
Even my children, who were present during the conversation 
were much amused about this man, who called himself a 
doctor, and who manifested such gross ignorance of the science 
of medicine. 

The aristocratic traveling physicians are even more danger- 
ous to the public than the former class, for they are intelligent, 
shrewd, use good language, and have more gab and gas than 
scientific medical skill. 

These itinerants send in advance numerous llaming circulars 
and hand bills, wherein they set forth their pretended know- 
ledge of the science of medicine, and boasting of the numerous 



THOS. H. BARTON. 229 



cures which they have effected in the city of New York and in 
other cities of the Middle and Eastern States. They parade 
their wonderful skill and superior knowledge before the pub- 
lic, claiming that disease, in their hands, is like a toy in the 
hands of a child. After having surprised the public in the 
East by their almost superhuman knowledge and miraculous 
cures, they have concluded to locate at the City of Columbus, 
or some other city in Ohio, and establish an institution for 
the cure of chronic diseases, and that they have an able and 
efficient corps of physicians, who will visit the different locali- 
ties in this State, in order that the public may have an oppor- 
tunity to obtain their services. The principal of this institu- 
tion finally concludes to visit the city of Pomeroy, and informs 
the public that he will be in that place on a certain day, there 
to remain for two or three days, so that the sick and afflicted 
may obtain the advantage of his marvelous skill. The press 
of the county is brought to bear in their behalf, aud the col- 
umns of the newspapers are filled'with flamming advertise- 
ments. These newspaper notices read about as follows : 

"Dr. Bravado, the experienced aud successful specialist, of Bari- 
tario will be at Balnibardo on the day of 18 — . 

"Particular attenlion given to diseases of the 8kin, Catarrh in its 
various forms, affections of the Throat, Lungs, Heart, Stomach, 
Liver, Kidney, and Bladder, and all Chronic, Nervous and Private 
diseases. 

"The attention of every woman who is suffering with any of tliose 
distressing complaints peculiar to her sex is especially invited to Dr. 
Bravado's new and successful methods of treatment. 

"Twenty -live years experience in thetreatmentof obstinate chronic 
diseases has made Dr. Bravado the imperial master of these terrible 
maladies. 

"You do not have to tell him your ailments ; he reads your com- 
plaints like an open book, describes your peculiar sufferings without 
asking you a single question, and prepares remedies to meet the 
precise wants in each particular case. 

"No guess work ! No experiments ! No failures ! No disappoint- 
ments ! When he takes a case he cures it ! 

"Delicate diseases, either sex, no matter how caused, relieved at 
once and quickly cured. 

"Consultation free and strictly confidential. Office hours, 9 a. m. 
to 5 p. m. Evening, 7 to 9 p. m." 

42 



330 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



The "Town Pump" never made a more eloquent harangue, 
and it would be strange, indeed, if all this outcry did not 
bring customers. At the appointed time the sick and afflicted, 
the melingers, and all who fanc}'' themselves sick, flock to Dr. 
Bravado for relief. He generally admits only one visitor at 
a time, and when through with the examination, a small 
amount of medicine is given to the patient for which an exor- 
bitant price is charged, provided no specified amount is fixed 
upon for a cure. Some of these itinerant quacks, after ex- 
amining a case, have been known to hurry out of their 
rooms, without their headgear, a greenback in their hands, pro- 
ceed to the nearest drug store, purchase a small quantity 
of medicine, costing perhaps not to exceed twenty-five cents, 
then wend their way to their rooms, and charge their vic- 
tims from three to ten dollars according to their ability to pay- 
'•Consultation free !" This is what Dr. Bravado's advertise- 
ments says ; but in the way I have described, he generally suc- 
ceeds in obtaining ample compensation for his consultation. 
When he is through with his patient he agrees to return in one 
month, when his victims meet him again. His visits are 
repeated for the space of six months or a year, when he fails 
to put in an appearance, and is never heard from any more. 

Permit me to ask this question : Has he cured the chronic 
diseases of all those persons who have come to him for medical 
advice? I presume that every candid person will answer this 
question in the negative, and say, emphatically : No, he has 
NOT. Perhaps a few have been cured, and probably a few 
others have been relieved to some extent ; but the major portion 
of his patients have been deceived, and, as it were, robbed of 
their money, when they were promised a sure cure. Another 
question naturally arises : Why have so many of these itiner" 
ant physicians, who have heretofore plied their vocation in 
this locality, left their post of duty to be heard from no more? 

The answer is obvious. Like Belshazzar of old, "they have 
been weighed in the balance and found wanting." They are 
deficient in medical knowledge and skill. Permit me to ask 
one more question : If these traveling physicians are what 
they represent themselves to be; if they enjoy the reputation 
set forth in their flaming advertisements; if they have the 



THOS. H. BARTON, 331 



lucrative practice claimed for them in New York and the East, 
how does it happen that they leave this practice and come to 
Pomeroy and other places in Ohio to ply their vocation? 
Again the answer suggests itself to our mind : "They have 
been weighed in the balance and found wanting." 

Take the case of two physicians who are equally skilled in 
the science of medicine. Is it reasonable to suppose the one 
who sees hw patients only once a month can do better than the 
one who sees them two or three times a week? I think not. It 
is unreasonable to suppose that the physician who makes a 
monthly visit to his patients can do better that the one who 
has them regularly under his care and attention. Moreover, 
the local physician generally knows the physical and family 
history of his patients, whereas the itinerant doctor does not, 
and this alone gives a decided advantage to the local physi- 
cian. 

During a number of 3''ears past I have noticed advertisements 
in the newspapers which read about as follows : A retired 
physician has at lost found a sure cure for consumption, 
catarrh, bronchitis, and all diseases of the throat and lungs. 
For the benefit of suffering humanity, he will send, free of 
charge, to any person afflicted with lung disease, who will en- 
close a two cent stamp to his address, a recipe for the prepara- 
tion of a sure cure for said disease. These characters some- 
times imitate the clergy, and say in their advertisements : A 
clergyman, who has traveled in the East Indies, has been fur- 
nished with a recipe, etc., etc. By numerous sick persons, 
such an announcement will be regarded with favor, and the 
donor will be considered a benevolent gentleman. The bait 
takes. In due time some afflicted person will desire to take 
advantage of this benevolent (?) offer, and will enclose the 
necessary postage stamp in answer to the advertisement, and 
send for the prescription, which, barring no delay in the mails, 
arrives in the course of a few days. The victim immediately 
presents it to his druggist in order to procure the medicine. 
The pharmacist looks over the recipe, and finds few familiar 
drugs which he always keeps in stock ; but in it he also finds 
one or two articles of which he has no knowledge, never having 
heard or read the name before, The consequence is that he 



332 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



can not put up the prescription. The holder then presents it 
to another pharmacist with the same result; there are one or 
two articles which he has not got, and which it is impossible 
for him to procure ; he can not compound the medicine. After 
trying all the druggists in his locality, the holder writes to the 
donor for an explanation, and is respectfully informed that the 
very article which he can not procure is an essential ingredient 
in the compound, and that the medicine is useless without it; 
that it is a plant or shrub new to botanical science, and is in- 
digenous only in India, Arabia, or some other far-off country ; 
that a small supply of this medicine has been procured at great 
expense ; and that upon the receipt of two or three dollars in a 
registered letter, the donor will send the remedy. What is the 
result? The victim encloses the necessary cash, directs the 
letter to his benevolent friend, and in due time receives the 
nostrum. Now, if the patient is affected with consumption, he 
hasniost assuredly been the victim of a humbug, and has given 
his money to a shrewd and wily quack. 

I have observed a number of such advertisements in the 
newspapers, and I have also seen some of the prescriptions. 
They contained one or two ingredients, which I do not believe 

can be found in any mate^-ia medica or pharmacopeia. 
******* 

I shall now direct the reader's attention to the code of medi- 
cal ethics in regard to employing physicians as counsel, and 
the right of a patient to discharge his medical attendant and 
employ another. Considerable has already been said as to the 
manner in which the author has been treated in various cases. 
To mnke this tnatter plain it is necessary to give an outline of 
the code of ethics of the medical fraternity. 

This code gives a patient a right to discharge his medical 
attenda'H if he has just cause ; but the attending physician 
should invariably be discharged before another is employed, 
for the reason that it will save the first physician the trouble 
and mortification, on visiting a case, to learn that another has 
taken his place. Every candid physician will (juietly ac- 
quiesce in being discharged, whether or not there is just cause 
for his patient doing so, provided he is notified before being 
put to trouble and expense. It has fell to my lot to be regular- 



THOS. H, BARTON. 333 



ly discharged in a few cases, but it has more frequently been 
my experience to visit a case, and then learn that another 
physician had been engaged, and then and there receive my 
dismissal. 

If counsel is required, the proper way for the patient and 
his friends to do, is to have a friendly talk with the medical 
attendant in regard to the case, then if the patient is in a dan- 
gerous condition, any candid physician will readly give his 
consent to a consultation, and be willing to meet some physi- 
cian who is agreeable to himself and the patient. There may be 
some difficulty in selecting a medical adviser who will be sat- 
isfactory to both parties. In this case I think the attending 
physician should, as a general rule, have the privilege of select- 
ing his counsel, for the reason that he is generally personally 
and intimatelyjacquainted with the physicians who reside with- 
in easy reach of any of his cases, and knows better than his 
patient where to obtain the most reliable counsel. It will be 
doing injustice to the regular attendant to employ as counsel 
a physician with whom he is not on friendly terms. If the 
patient or his friends should persist in employing a physician 
as counsel who is not on friendly terms with the attendant, 
the attending physician should, as a general rule, withdraw 
from the case. The writer has in several such instances, with- 
drawn from the case, and refused to meet the consulter. It is 
admitted that the patient has a right to di&charge his physician 
in certain cases, and the physician should also have a right to 
withdraw in case of dissatisfaction. It is a poor rule which 
fails to work both ways, and the patient also has a right to re- 
fuse as counsel a physician with whom he is not on friendly 
terms. 

I will give one or two illustrations of the working of the code 
of medical ethics. Suppose a case of sickness is doing as well 
as could be expected at 9 o'clock a. m., the time of his attend- 
ant's last visit. The physician, who may reside three miles or 
more from his patient, prescribes or gives medicine, then leaves 
the case, and wends his way to his office. At 3 o'clock p. m,, 
his patient suddenly becomes worse, and is in a dangerous, or 
apparently dangerous condition. In such a case, our code of 
ethics gives the patient, or his friends a right to call in coun- 



334 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



sel, but they should, at the same time, notify the regular at- 
tendant of the fact, so that both ma}^ reach the bed-side with- 
out delay. The above rule should be strictly adhered to, for 
if counsel is called without notifying the attending physician, 
he can do but little until the attendant arrives, and valuable 
time will thus be lost. The last visit of the attendant is paid 
for by the patient, if he is a paying customer, otherwise it is 
labor thrown away by the attending physician, and he is there- 
by put to trouble and inconvenience, especially if he has a 
large number of cases to attend to. I have sometimes been 
put to inconvenience in consequence of the violation of this 
rule. Having prescribed for my patient, or given him medi- 
cine, as the case may be, and then having proceeded to attend 
to other cases, I have been overtaken by a messenger informing 
me that Dr. Blank had been sent for to see my patient as coun- 
sel, and that he was waiting for me at my patient's residence. 
On such occasions, I have lost much valuable time, which 
could have been saved had my patient, or his friends, first no- 
tified me that they desired a consultation. If a consultation 
cannot be immediately held, it is generally rulable to fix upon 
an hour when both physicians can be present, and they are in 
honor bound to fill the appointment, if in their power so to do. 
If one physician fails to appear at the appointed time, the 
other waits one hour, and if the delinquent still fails to appear 
the engagement is virtually broken up. 

The consultation should be conducted in the following man- 
ner. The attending practitioner first examines the patient, 
and when he is through the consulting physician is kindly in- 
vited to make an examination. The two physicians then retire 
to a private room or some other convenient place, and there 
discuss the pathology of the case, and its treatment. It is the 
duty of the regular attendant to thoroughly explain to the 
counsel the nature of the disease as he understands it, the 
remedies he has used, the effect which they have produced, 
and the diet he has ordered. If the counsel has any advice to 
give, he gives it directly to the attending physician — not to 
the patient or his friends. To them he should be silent on 
this subject, nor should he, at an}^ time say anything deroga- 
tory in regard to the mode of treatment which has been pur- 



THOS. H. BAETON. 335 



sued. It is then, as before, the duty of the attending physician 
to write the prescriptions, or put up the medicine, as the case 
may be. 

Our code of medical ethics does not give the consulting 
physician the right to supercede the attending one. If the 
two physicians can not agree in regard to the nature of the 
disease or the mode of treatment, our code advises that anoth- 
er be called in to settle the dispute. If the attending physi- 
cian can not be present at the consultation, the counsel should 
put his views concerning the case in writing in a sealed en- 
velope, to be delivered to the regular attendant. The counsel 
should not write the prescriptions, but he is permitted to give 
a small amount of medicine for temporary relief. After the 
consultation is held, the consulting physician retires from 
the case as if he had never been employed, nor should he 
visit the patient again unless at the request of the regular 
attendant and patient. This rule is absolute, and should 
in no case be violated by the consulting physician. The coun- 
sel is permitted to suggest to the attendant, but not to the 
patient or his friends, that if the case does not improve in a 
day or two, he will be willing to visit it again, provided he is 
duly notified. 

Many persons are of the opinion, when a consultation is 
held over a sick person, that the patient has a right to dis- 
charge his medical attendant and employ the consulting 
physician. This is a mistake. According to our code of 
ethics he has no right to do so. Here is the rule in such cases : 
If at a consultation, the attending physician is discharged, it 
then becomes the duty of the counsel to withdraw from the 
case and have nothing more to do with it. No rule is more 
obligatory on the medical ;,fraternity than this, and the mem- 
bers of the profession are in honor bound to obey it. The 
reason is obvious. The rule is designed to keep physicians 
on friendly terms with each other, for if this law is not 
obeyed, the attending physician would most assuredly take 
umbrage at the counsel for its viola^on. Moreover, it would 
prevent physicians from having counsel called, if there was 
danger of their patients discharging them, and employing the 
counsel. 



336 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 



There are a few physicians with whom I am intimately ac- 
quainted, who have, at different times, violated nearly all the 
rules of medical ethics in regard to consultations. I think, 
in most of these cases, it has been done willfully for gain or 
notoriety, and no doubt the patient, or his friends, should 
sometimes bear a share of the blame, as the following case will 
show, if I am correctly informed. A few years ago I was 
treating a lady who resided in Minersville, and on my third 
visit learned that another physician had been employed to 
treat the case. Upon making inquiry of the sick lady as to 
how this came about, she informed me that her friends had 
advised her to enploy Dr. Blank, and that he had already been 
to see her, and at the request of herself and friends he had 
prescribed for her, and taken full charge of the case. Here 
was a visit unnecessarily made by me, and much valuable 
time lost from my other business, caused by a regular physi- 
cian violating the code of medical ethics. 

I know some consulting physicians, who, at a consultation, 
have assumed an air of great importance, at the same time boast- 
ing about the cures they have performed in cases who were af- 
fected with the same disease as the patient, thus hoping to gain 
notoriety. These boasting physicians generally undertake to 
make some change in the medicine the patient is using, whether 
such change is necessary or not. This reminds me of an ar- 
ticle which I read in the London Lancet, in 1854. It was an 
anonymous letter written by an old physician to a young one 
just commencing the practice of medicine, and was intercepted 
by the editor, and published in that medical periodical. It 
advised the young practitioner never to permit a consulting 
physician to change the medicine even in its color, and if any 
Son of Esculapius made the attempt, his advice was to im- 
mediately withdraw from the case. 

I was young in the profession when I read this article. I did 
not heed its advice, and never withdrew frorii a case of sickness 
for this cause, but it is good advice to a physician who wishes 
to establish his reputation. ]\Iy experience has been that, in 
nearly every instance where I have allowed my counsel to 
change the medicine, my reputation as a physician has been 
more or less injured. I think that some consulting physicians 



THOS. H. BAkTON. 33"i 



are in the habit of changing the prescriptions whenever they 
are permitted so to do. Permit me to compare such physicians 
to a 'bus driver, who never has his conveyance so full of 
travelers but there is room for one more passenger. Such is 
the case with some physicians. It matters not to them how 
well the patient may be doing, they can always find occasion 
to make a slight change in the prescriptions and give a little 
more medicine. There is always room for one more dose. 
Phj^sicians are sometimes injured in their reputation in the 
following manner. In numerous instances I have been injured 
in the same way during the past thirty eight years. Take the 
following hypothetical case. Suppose a person to be suddenly 
and dangerously taken sick with some acute disease. About 
twelve hours after he is taken down, the family physician is 
called to treat the case. He obeys the call, and is soon at the 
patient's bed side, and finds the case a dangerous one; the 
patient and his friends are much alarmed about the situation. 
The physician, after making an examination, makes his diag- 
nosis and informs his patient the name and nature of the dis- 
ease. His diagnosis may be a little doubtful, yet he has hopes 
that by careful attention, the patient will, in due time, recover. 
On the second day the physician thinks the case will re- 
cover, and so informs the patient and his friends. But 
they are greatly alarmed and ask the physician his opinion as 
to whether or not the patient will recover, and if the physician 
has any doubts they desire counsel. He informs them that he 
thinks, by careful management, the patient will soon be better 
and that counsel is unneccessar}'. Counsel is demanded every 
day until finally this privilege is granted. It is now perhaps 
the fourth or fifth day in the progress of the disease, and at 
this time, the physician sees some signs of improvement, but 
the friends of the patient do not. Dr. Cureall is sent for, and 
in due time arrives, examines the case, makes his diagnosis 
and in general agrees with the attending physician, but he 
advises a change in the medicine, writes the prescriptions, and 
continues to visit the case regularly. As usual, he boasts of 
the numerous patients he has cured of similar diseases. Now, 
kind reader, under such circumstances, there is no alternative 
for the attending physician but to withdraw from the case, for 



538 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



if he does not do so he will sooner or later be discharged. If 
the patient recovers, the consulting physician will receive the 
meed of praise, while the regular attendant will be severel}^ 
censured. If the case proves fatal, as a general rule, the coun- 
sel will not be blamed. The friends of the patient, in such 
cases, will generally sa-y : Had he employed the counsel at 
the commencement, our friend would have recovered. In 
some cases, the patient's friends appear to sympathise with the 
attending physician, they appear unwilling to part with an old 
and dear friend, who has stood by them in previous storms of 
affliction, but this is the exception, and not the general rule. 
In most cases they appear careless in regard to his feelings 
and reputation. 

During the past thirty-eight years, I have had a large num- 
ber of patients, who were dangerously ill, under my individual 
treatment, and who have been restored to health. In some of 
the worst cases I have requested that counsel be called, but 
this request was refused ; the patient himself declined having 
a consultation. Had counsel been employed and the cases 
recovered the consulting physician would have obtained all 
the credit. 

I will report two cases of injury, in one of which counsel was 
demanded by the friends of the patient, and absolutely refused- 
The first case was a young man in his teens, who had sprained 
his knee joint; the other was a child four years old, that had 
sustained a dislocation of the knee cap (palella) together with 
a sprain of the knee joint. I was called to see the young 
man about four clays after he received the injury, and found 
the joint and adjacent parts much swollen and inflamed ; he 
was also affected with inflammatory fever. I treated this case 
five or six days, in the meantime making four visits. The 
knee joint swelled gradually, but swelling less every day till 
the sixth, when it appeared about stationery; there was now 
no fever. At this time counsel was demanded, but I refused 
having a consultation on the ground that it was unnecessary, 
and also on account of a physician being selected who would 
not consent to a consultation, and who would have taken 
charge of the case as if he had been regularly employed to 
treat it. For these good and sutflcient reasons I refused coun- 
sel and abandoned the case. 



THOS. H. BARTON. 339 



Soon afterwards I was called upon to treat the child with the 

dislocated knee cap. The bone had remained out of place for 

two days before I saw the case, and at this time the knee was 

stiff and much swollen, the swelling extending from the ankle 

nearly to the body ; there was high fever caused by the sprain 

in the knee joint. I replaced the dislocated bone, and put the 

child under treatment ; bnt in spite of all that I could do the 

swelling continued to increase for two weeks when it became 

stationary and in one month's time the child could walk very 

well. I presume the parents of the yonng man thought that 

it was the change of physicians that wrought the cure in his 

case. Had counsel been called to see the child, there can be 

no doubt that I would have been severely censured. 

* * ^ * * % * 

About twelve years ago, Prof, Whitaker, of Cincinnati, de- 
livered a lecture before a meeting of the Ohio Valley Medical 
Society. Dr. Whitaker said : "The public are slaves to us as 
physicians, for this reason, we can charge our patients any 
sum of money for our services, and they are compelled to pay 
it." Doubtless this is true, if the physician is a learned one, 
and resides in a large city like Cincinnati ; but in the rural 
districts, and in small towns and villages, the case is differ- 
ent, and in many instances this rule is reversed, and the physi- 
cian becomes the slave of the public, especially in localities 
where competition is strong. Several years ago I read an 
article in the Medical and Surgical Reporter relative to an 
eminent physician, who resided in one of the interior coun- 
ties of Virginia. He had practiced medicine in that locality 
for many years, and had an extensive practice. He died well 
advanced in years, but did not leave behind him sufficient 
funds even to purchase a coffin, and was buried by public 
charity. Such neglect on the part of his non-paying patrons 
is a disgrace to the community in which he lived. 

None of the learned professions is of more benefit to the 
human family than that of medicine. It is in times of dis- 
tress and affliction that the physician comes to the relief of his 
patients ; and if conscientious, does all in his power to relieve 
their distress. As a general rule he is prompt. He does not 
hesitate and wait to inquire in regard to the financial stand- 



340 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



ing of his patrons, and their willingness to meet their obliga 
tions. He does not "stand upon the order of his going, but 
goes at once." The wind and the snow, the hail and the 
rain, the heat of summer and the frosts of winter do not deter 
him from his duty. The deadly epidemic daunts him not. 
At the risk of his own life he enters the abode of pestilence 
and breathes the noxious atmosphere, fraught with disease 
and death, doing this for the relief of suffering humanity. 
During the burning sun of summer and the chilling blasts of 
winter, he has left his comfortable home to administer to the 
wants of his patrons. Then remember the precept given nearly 
nineteen hundred years age. "The laborer is worthy of his 
hire." Pay Your Physician I Kemember him for his servi- 
ces. He has spent the prime of his life in the study of medi- 
cine, and in making himself proficient in his chosen pro- 
fession, and in so doing he has freely expended his means. 
He has given the best years of his life to the study of disease, 
and has spent large sums of money in the purchase of books, 
journals and instruments. He has given long years of study 
to the principles of anatomy and ph3^siolog3\ He can locate 
and describe every bone, muscle, tendon, joint and ligament 
of the human bod}^, and understands their situation, struct- 
ure and economy. He has studied the nature and patliology 
of disease in its infinite forms, this knowledge being acquired 
only after 3^ears of hard labor. Then recompense your physi- 
cian. To those who have the poor under their care and super- 
vision, we say : Pay the physician for his services. In con- 
clusion, we say to one and all. Pay Your Physician. 

THE END. 



